How China is aiming for the skies

The Zhuhai air show is showcasing China's ambitions to create Asia's first successful commercial airplane business in a challenge to Airbus and Boeing's long-standing domination of the industry.

Plane builder Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. is offering VIP flights on its 70- to 110-seat ARJ21 jet, for which it has 240 orders including options and plans to begin delivering to customers late next year after repeated delays.

On Tuesday, the state-owned company, known as Comac, made a further splash with the announcement that its single-aisle C919 passenger jet had received 100 orders from Chinese airlines and an international customer, despite it still being in the design stage.

Image: A Chinese-made ARJ21 commercial aircraft takes off at the Airshow.

Text and Images: AP (Any unauthorised reproduction is strictly prohibited)