Chinese aircraft maker Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) announced on Tuesday that the company had secured orders for 130 planes on the first day of the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) held in south China's Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province.
The company also announced the rebranding of its ARJ21 regional jet as the C909, aligning the plane with the company's naming convention for its other models: the C919 and C929.
A C909 regional jet at the 15th Airshow China in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, south China, November 12, 2024. /CFP
With 78-97 seats and a flight range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers, the C909 is well-suited for building a route network based on regional or secondary hub airports, providing capacity support to major hub airports. It has excellent takeoff and landing capabilities for airports with short, narrow runways. It is also suitable for high-altitude and hot and cold environments, making it highly adaptable to the operating conditions in China's border regions, Southeast Asia, Africa and other overseas areas.
A C909 regional jet and a C919 narrowbody jet are seen in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, south China, November 9, 2024. /CFP
COMAC's C919 has a layout of 158-192 seats, with a range of 4,075-5,555 kilometers, according to the company. It received certification from Chinese civil aviation authorities in 2022. Since then, seven aircraft have been delivered to its first global operator, China Eastern Airlines, while the maiden commercial operation began in May 2023.
The manufacturer of the C919 believes it will help push forward the development of the high-end manufacturing sector in China.
According to COMAC, Hainan Airlines placed a firm order for 60 C919 narrowbody and 40 C909 regional jets on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Colorful Guizhou Airlines signed a purchase agreement for 30 C909 planes, 20 firm and 10 provisional.
A C919 takes off during the Nanchang Air Show in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, east China, November 2, 2024. /CFP
COMAC's deputy director of marketing Liu Yan said that Air China intends to become the first customer for its C929 widebody aircraft, which is currently under development and will have 280 to 400 seats and a range of 12,000 kilometers.
A model of the C929 at the 15th Airshow China in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, south China, November 10, 2024. /CFP
(Cover: A C909 regional jet at the 15th Airshow China in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, south China, November 12, 2024. /CFP)