East-Asia-Intel.com, March 7, 2012

Orders for the Comac C919, China’s answer to Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max, now total 235, said Wu Guanghui, chief designer for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) on March 3.

While most of the orders are from China’s domestic airplane leasing companies, foreign companies have also shown interest in the 168 to 190 seat airliner. The C919 had not been expected to become a serious contender in the international commercial aviation market until 2020.

The speed at which China has been developing the airliner has been accelerated by a joint venture with Connecticut-based General Electric, whose chairman Jeffrey Immelt is also President Barack Obama’s chief jobs creation advisor.

Last year, GE signed a deal with Beijing to establish a joint venture in advanced airplane engines that would involve substantial technology transfer to China.

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  China’s newest commercial jetliner benefitting from GE joint venture