China’s COMAC plans to introduce C919 and ARJ21 jets to five Southeast Asian countries By Reuters
© Reuters. File photo: Comac C919 airplane on display at the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Center in Singapore on February 21, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su/file photo
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Written by Sophie Yu and Brenda Goh
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese state-owned airplane manufacturer COMAC said it would conduct flight displays of its C919 and ARJ21 jets in five Southeast Asian countries on Tuesday to lay the foundation for future international sales.
Over the next two weeks, the C919 and ARJ21 jets will conduct demonstration flights in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, the Shanghai-based aircraft manufacturer said in a statement.
A C919 airliner arrived in Vietnam to participate in the Vietnam Airshow on Monday after the Singapore Air Show on Sunday.
The two aircraft were on display at the Singapore Air Show last week, marking the first time the C919 jet, a narrow-body aircraft touted as a competitor to Boeing’s (NYSE:) 737 MAX and Airbus’ A320neo, has been displayed outside Chinese territory.
The ARJ21 regional jet is a smaller predecessor that primarily flies in China but is also operated by Indonesian airlines. The jet, which will seat 78 to 97 people, is scheduled to take off from Van Don International Airport in northern Vietnam on Tuesday afternoon for a demonstration flight, according to COMAC.
“The primary objective of this flight is to showcase the aircraft’s superior performance and lay the foundation for future expansion into the Southeast Asian market,” the company added.
China has said it wants to secure broader international recognition for the C919, including pursuing certification by the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency this year. The jet has received more than 1,000 orders so far, but most have come from Chinese airlines and aircraft lessors.
