China’s domestic leasing companies order 300 C919 home-built jets

The C919, China’s first self-developed single-aisle passenger jet, netted 300 new orders on Nov. 8 from seven domestic aircraft leasing companies at the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

The orders indicate the aircraft model has gained wider recognition after it recently received its type certificate, experts said.

The seven leasing companies signed agreements with Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, its manufacturer, during the Zhuhai Airshow, which began on Tuesday and runs through Sunday.

The companies are: China Development Bank Financial Leasing, ICBC Financial Leasing, CCB Financial Leasing, Bank of Communications Financial Leasing, CMB Financial Leasing, SPDB Financial Leasing and Jiangsu Financial Leasing.

The C919 received its type certificate, which gives the design approval, in late September from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered to China Eastern Airlines in December.

So far, 1,115 orders have been placed for the C919 from home and abroad. Comparable to the Airbus A320 family aircraft and the Boeing 737 series, the C919 is predicted to break the market duopoly of Boeing and Airbus and help China’s aviation industry enter the fast lane, experts said.