COMAC expects 50 to 100 C919 orders in 2011

Commercial Aircraft Corp China (COMAC) stated it expects 50 to 100 orders in 2011 for the C919, the nation's first passenger jet (Bloomberg, 08-Mar-2011). The new aircraft will be as much as 15% more fuel- efficient than existing narrowbody aircraft, said GM for sales and marketing Chen Jin. Its maiden flight will be in 2014, followed by the commencement of commercial services two years later. COMAC has completed the preliminary design phase of the C919 and is now starting the final design definition phase.