China Southern takes locally-made jets

China Southern Airlines took delivery of two 50-seater ERJ-145 passenger planes made by Brazil-China joint venture Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry. The carrier ordered six ERJ-145s in February for US$21.3 million each. The balance of the order will be delivered by yearend. The JV is between Hong Kong-listed AviChina Industry & Technology and Brazil's Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (EMBRAER). While officials said the deal marked the first delivery of China-made passenger jets, the planes for the China Southern order were assembled largely from imported parts. From next year most components will be sourced in China, the JV said.