Boeing and Airbus rival completes first test flight
A Chinese-built aircraft, which has the backing of Ryanair and is being seen as a potential rival to Airbus and Boeing, has carried out a successful first test flight from Shanghai.
The Comac C919 made a 79-minute flight from Shanghai, which was screened lived across China.
The 150-200 seat aircraft is due to enter service in 2020, competing with the Airbus A320 and Boeing’s 737.
China Eastern will be the launch customer but the company has received more than 500 orders, mainly from China. However, Ryanair said six years ago that it was ‘seriously’ interested in the aircraft as an alternative to Boeing and Airbus jets and it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the manufacturer ‘to participate in discussions on the development’ of the C919.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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