Ten more units of the first China-developed regional jetliner will be sold by the end of the year, according to its manufacturer, China Aviation Industry Corp I (Avic I).
A mainland airline would soon confirm its order for ARJ21-700s - an 80 to 100-seat aircraft model suitable for short-haul regional operations, said Tang Xiaoping, assistant president of Avic I.
'The deal will be signed in about 50 days,' Mr Tang said after a press briefing at the Zhuhai Airshow yesterday. Avic I was to have held a contract signing ceremony yesterday morning but called it off without giving a reason.
The company last year received orders for 35 ARJ21-700s from Shanghai Airlines, Shandong Airlines and a Shenzhen-based leasing company. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2008.
'The manufacturing process is in full gear. The first aircraft should be able to take to the sky in late 2006 or early 2007,' said Mr Tang, who is expecting the model to dominate the mainland regional jet market after its launch.
'We are looking to have 50 per cent of the market or we wouldn't have developed the model in the first place.'
According to a market forecast report compiled by Avic I, China will need 2,373 passenger aircraft by 2023.