Chinese aircraft manufacturing company Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (Comac) is nearing an order from an airline in Ghana, a rare advance overseas for the state-owned company as it attempts to become a challenger to Boeing Co. and Airbus SE, said Bloomberg.
Africa World Airlines Ltd., partly owned by China’s HNA Group Co. may agree this month to buy two Comac ARJ21 regional jets, the carrier’s chief executive officer John Quan, said in an interview.
“Our Chinese shareholders are very keen to introduce the aircraft to boost China-Africa trade relations,” said Quan.
Comac is a key part of China’s plan to build a homegrown aerospace industry and compete with other international aircraft manufacturing companies. At present, the company’s orders have been limited to domestic buyers such as China’s state-owned carriers and HNA.