Travel Forum / Travel Types / Air Travel / December 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7155452.stm

Ceremony inaugurates Chinese jet

The ARJ21 being unveiled at Friday's ceremony
The ceremony was not open to the foreign media
China has held a ceremony to inaugurate its first home-grown
commercial aircraft.

The ARJ-21, which will be able to seat up to 85 people, will embark
upon its maiden flight in March and then go into mass production in
2009.

China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) is banking on the project
to build its reputation in the industry.

With Chinese air travel booming, the authorities want to develop a
competitive domestic manufacturer.

'Competitive'

It is estimated that China will require 900 medium-sized jets over the
next 20 years as it caters for the growing number of people for whom
flying is an affordable means of travel.

China wants to grab 60% of the medium-sized jet market, currently
dominated by firms such as Bombardier and Embraer.

The ARJ21 makes us part of the global aviation industry
Lin Zuoming, AVIC general manager

China's State Council said last year that it was committed to an
"internationally competitive product" and would seek international
assistance where necessary.

Friday's unveiling of the plane - dubbed the "Flying Phoenix" - was
not open to any media apart from the official news agency Xinhua.

But Lin Zuoming, AVIC's general manager, was reported by China Central
Television to have said that China's aviation industry "had turned
over a new leaf".

"The ARJ21 makes us part of the global aviation industry but it still
faces a new journey to become successful financially."

AVIC announced a new order for 100 planes from Kunpeng Airlines, a
Sino-US joint venture, raising the total number of orders to date to
170.

China's aviation industry is expanding rapidly with suppliers winning
more business from both Boeing and Airbus.