C919 plane lands 30 more orders

Workers inspect the engine of the C919 after its test taxing two days before its maiden flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Friday. [Photo/China Daily]

The C919, China's first homegrown large passenger plane, on Tuesday netted another 30 orders from Everbright Financial Leasing Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Everbright Bank Co Ltd, lifting its total orders to 600.

On Tuesday, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, the manufacturer of the C919, signed an agreement with Everbright Financial Leasing in Beijing. So far, the C919 has received orders from 24 Chinese and overseas clients, and China Eastern Airlines will be the first to take the delivery.

Zhang Jinliang, president of China Everbright Bank Co Ltd, said the research and development of large commercial aircraft in China is a critical move to meet the surging demand for domestic and international civil aviation transportation.

"Everbright Financial Leasing has been paying close attention to the research and development of the C919 aircraft. Its successful maiden flight on May 5 has been a milestone in the history of China's aviation industry," Zhang said.

"We will support the development of homegrown commercial aircraft, and contribute to the growth of domestic aircraft manufacturing," he added.

"In the future, we plan to launch further and deeper cooperation with COMAC."

COMAC Chief Accountant Tian Min said his company had received the trust and support from Everbright Financial Leasing and others since the initial development of the C919.

Founded in 2010, Everbright Financial Leasing is registered in Wuhan, Hubei province. Its parent, China Everbright Bank Co Ltd, holds 90 percent of the company's shares.

Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst and columnist at Carnoc.com, one of China's largest civil aviation web portals, said the C919's entry into the world's aviation market won't take place for a while.