Test flight for China's first passenger jet delayed
28 March 2008
China is expected to delay the test flight of the nation's first passenger jet, originally scheduled for the end of this month, to at least the middle of this year due to supplier delays, according to people familiar with the situation, Bloomberg reported. The 70- to 90-seat ARJ21, or Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century, is seen as the first step in China's ambition to compete with global aircraft makers like Boeing and Airbus. Contractors for the project include Rockwell Collins, Honeywells and General Electric, though the source of the delays was not disclosed. When released, the ARJ21 will be priced at a similar level to the US$30 million Embraer 175 jet, officials say.
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