China's first large airliner delayed by technology problems

The maiden flight of China's first large commercial passenger jet, the C919, has been delayed until the end of next year, with planes expected to be delivered to buyers in 2018, a senior official at its state-owned manufacturer said yesterday.

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) chief financial officer Tian Min said assembly work would start in the second half of this year and that a test flight was likely to take place at the end of next year.

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.

"Our plane will target mainly the domestic market and will gradually look to tap the international markets," Tian said at a media briefing held in Shanghai yesterday.

"The aviation market in China is strong enough for all the plane-makers to benefit."

Comac, established in 2008 to push ahead with the airliner project, signed a series of significant supply deals with leading firms like General Electric and Honeywell in 2010.