The C919 jet, under development by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, is the nation's gamble against the Airbus and Boeing Co. aviation duopoly. But early-stage design difficulties have forced Comac to revise the production schedule for the 150-seat narrow-body jet.
Comac initially had aimed for the C919 to take its first flight in 2014, with deliveries starting in 2016.
But a company official said Wednesday that the Chinese aircraft manufacturer now aims to have the homegrown jetliner's maiden flight by late 2015, with deliveries starting in 2018. The official declined further comment. People familiar with the situation said in August that delivery of the C919 jet was expected to be pushed back to 2017 at the earliest.
Analysts have said that production delays are common, particularly for a new aircraft maker such as Comac.
So far, Comac has secured orders for 400 of the C919 jets from 16 customers, mostly from Chinese airlines and other aircraft-leasing firms. GE Capital Aviation Services, the world's biggest aircraft lessor by fleet value and the aircraft-financing arm of U.S.-based General Electric Co., is the only foreign buyer, with an order for 20 jets.
Comac hasn't disclosed the list price of the jet. It unveiled a mock-up of the 150-seat aircraft in 2010, but has yet to build the actual plane.
Despite a noticeable lack of foreign airline interest and concerns over development delays, China is eager to develop commercial jets amid the nation's rapidly growing demand for air travel. Chinese carriers remain some of the biggest buyers of Boeing and Airbus jets as the country's economic prosperity lifts travel demand.
Last Friday, China Southern Airlines Co., the nation's biggest by fleet size, signed a deal to buy 80 passenger narrow-body jets, the bulk of which are the more advanced Airbus A320neo series aircraft.
Those orders, worth a combined $9.33 billion at list prices, came just days after upstart discount rival 9 Air placed an order for 50 Boeing 737 jets, including 737 versions with more advanced engines.
Comac's experience in producing a smaller regional jet, the ARJ21, illustrates the difficulties aircraft makers face in securing tests and approvals before they can move on to commercial sales.
The 78-to-90-seat turbofan short- and medium-range jet, which had its maiden flight in 2008, is expected to complete final certification by the end of 2014. The jet will be delivered Chengdu Airlines next year, four years behind its original 2010 delivery schedule.
Separately, the Comac official on Wednesday confirmed that the Chinese aircraft maker has signed a pact with Russia's state-owned United Aircraft Corp. to jointly develop a new widebody plane, a move that could help the two nations better compete against the established players.
Source: Wall Street Journal by Joanne Chiu
from China Travel & Tourism News http://ift.tt/1iB6EFm
Put the internet to work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment