Delivery of China's first commercial airliner delayed

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China’s (Comac) Chief Financial Officer Tian Min said at a media briefing on Wednesday that the maiden flight of China’s first large commercial passenger jet, the C919, will be delayed until the end of next year, with planes expected to be delivered to buyers in 2018, South China Morning Post reported. The 168-seat C919 had been expected to make its maiden flight this year, before delivery to buyers in 2016. The delay reflects the difficulties China has faced in its efforts to make a large aircraft able to compete with jets produced by global aviation giants Airbus and Boeing.