China's homemade C919 secures 570 orders, says report

Two technicians inspect an engine on the C919, China's first domestically produced single-aisle passenger jet, after a taxiing test on Wednesday.[Photo by Yin Liqin/China Daily]

China's first domestically produced single-aisle passenger jet, the C919, which is expected to make its maiden flight on Friday, has secured 570 orders from 23 clients, China Securities Network reported on Wednesday.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of C919, said the aircraft has not only attracted domestic airlines such as Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, but also foreign carriers, such as German startup PuRen Airlines and City Airways of Thailand.

Financial leasing companies, such as Ping An Leasing and CCB Financial Leasing, have become the biggest clients, with each of them ordering 50 units, while ICBC Leasing Co Ltd and ABC Financial Leasing have ordered 45 units each. COMAC has also received 20 orders from SPDB Financial Leasing and 36 from CITIC Financial Leasing, among others, according to the report.

Overseas orders account for about 10 percent of the total, including airlines from Germany and Thailand and others from Asia Pacific and Africa. GE Capital Aviation Services, the largest commercial airline leasing company worldwide, has ordered 20 C919s.

The orders show the increasing demand and confidence in the aircraft made in China, Tian Min, chief accountant of the COMAC, told media.