China's long-awaited competitor for the single-aisle airliner market dominated by versions of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 has finally made its airline debut with a first delivery to China Eastern Airlines, with commercial flights expected to start this spring.
The plane received its airworthiness certificate from Chinese authorities several months ago, but has not yet been submitted to European or U.S. authorities, so at least at first, it will largely appear on Chinese domestic routes, and nearly all the orders and options so far, over a thousand, belong to Chinese airlines or equipment lessors. It has been in development since 2008, and was originally due for delivery by 2018.
The new plane was designed and built in China, but relies on western companies to supply engines and a number of other critical electronic systems, although China has always had the goal of taking those items 'in-house,' possibly by illegal means—several individuals have been jailed over attempts to steal technology from some of the western suppliers.
Comac, the state-owned maker of the plane, has a goal of 20% of the world market for its segment, which covers narrow-bodies carrying 170-180 passengers, but its appeal outside China may be limited by a design that, in many ways, is older than current Airbus and Boeing products and less fuel-efficient.
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