China’s big three state-backed airlines put off deliveries of Airbus and Boeing orders – but have been happily accepting deliveries of homegrown COMAC planes.
China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China postponed nearly 100 planes from Boeing and Airbus last year.
Last year the three carriers took deliveries as planned of a dozen ARJ21 jets from COMAC, which are small regional jets with up to 90 seats.
China Eastern is buying 20 ARJ21s, and becomes the launch customer of the C919, which is the first large narrow-body aircraft built by a Chinese company.
The C919 will be a direct rival of the best-selling Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737.
There is a conscious effort by China authorities to give COMAC assistance to compete with the two big plane makers.
"CAAC will do everything in its power to support the nationally built civil aircraft business," said Feng Zhanglin, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China said last year.
COMAC expects to make the first deliveries of the C919 this year.
It has received orders for more than 800 C919 planes from over two dozen domestic and foreign airlines.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
