COMAC seeks buyers for C919 aircraft

After two years of research and development, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is looking for the first buyers of its domestically-made C919 large aircraft. The China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition opened Wednesday in Zhuhai and COMAC will be looking to sign collective large passenger aircraft user agreements at the air show.
Agreements are expected to be signed with Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines which have all participated in discussions with COMAC about China-made large aircraft development and the needs of users.
The domestically-made C919 aircraft is expected to make its maiden flight in 2014 and be delivered in 2016.
English People’s Daily Online reports that the growth of the Chinese aviation industry’s transport capability has not kept pace with demand growth and domestic airlines have plans to order more new aircraft. Boeing forecasts China will need 4,330 new aircraft over the next 20 years.