China's C919 receives 30 new orders

BEIJING - China's C919 large passenger aircraft has received 30 new orders from a domestic leasing company, taking total orders to 815.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) signed a purchase agreement with China Huarong Financial Leasing Co Ltd for 30 C919 and 20 ARJ21 on Monday in Beijing.

To date, C919 has gained 815 orders from 28 customers home and abroad. ARJ21 orders have hit 453 from 21 customers.

China Huarong Financial Leasing Co Ltd is a subsidiary of China Huarong Asset Management Co Ltd, one of the country's largest asset management companies.

"We expect to establish a comprehensive cooperative relationship with COMAC," said Lai Xiaomin, chairman of China Huarong Asset Management Co Ltd.

COMAC's ARJ21, a regional aircraft with 90 economy seats, was delivered to Chengdu Airlines in late 2015. To date, it has carried 49,000 passengers, the company said.

The C919 is in the test flight phase following a successful maiden flight on May 5, 2017. The narrow-body jumbo was developed to rival the updated Airbus A320 and the new Boeing B737.

COMAC has also set up a joint venture with a Russian state company to build wide-body passenger jet CR929. It said the joint development is now in full swinging.