ChinaDaily
BEIJING - The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) said
Saturday it is expected to sell 2,000 jumbo jets, the homegrown C919,
over the coming 20 years.
More orders for the C919 were in the pipeline this year in addition
to the existing orders of 100, Wu Guanghui, vice general manager of the
COMAC and the jumbo jet's chief designer, told Xinhua.
China's demand for C919 jumbo jets was estimated to reach 2,300 to 2,700
during the next two decades thanks to people's rising income and their
need for faster travel means, he said.
He forecast the sales of the C919 would reach 2,000 by 2030, compared
with the estimated global market demand of 20,000, said Wu.
The COMAC said earlier it had taken its first 100 orders for the C919
from six companies, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China
Southern Airlines and General Electric's leasing arm.
"We must ensure both technological and commercial success of C919,"
said Wu, adding that it was more difficult to sell the jets than making
it.
"The key is whether passengers would like our jets. As we have fully
taken this into consideration when designing it, I'm confident we will
not disappoint the market," he said.
