China's home-grown airliner delayed again

The delivery date of China's long-delayed first commercial jet airliner has been pushed back again, the manufacturer said yesterday, the latest setback for China's ambitions to challenge market leaders Boeing and Airbus.

Originally promised for 2007, the plane was most recently expected late this year, but Comac chairman Jin Zhuanglong said it would now be ready in the middle of next year.

"The development will not always go smoothly, and the programme cannot be accomplished at one stroke," Jin was quoted as saying in comments released by the company.

Jin blamed delays in the ARJ21 programme on China's inexperience in designing, building and certifying commercial jetliners. But he said the programme was still on track for delivery next year to launch customer Chengdu Airlines, which has ordered 30 of the planes.

Delays in the 90-seat ARJ21 could have knock-on effects for the development of the bigger and more ambitious C919, intended to compete with Boeing's 737 and the Airbus A320. The US Federal Aviation Agency will not issue crucial US certification for the larger plane until the ARJ21 is certified.

Beijing has built up state-owned "national champions" in industries from oil and telecommunications to steel and banking with monopolies, low-cost bank loans and other favours. The government defends the privileges as necessary for creating companies that can compete globally but they are no guarantee of success, with state firms still lagging far behind Western competitors.