(Yicai Global) June 29 -- The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China delivered its first ARJ21 plane to Chinese big three airlines in the start of commercial operation of the first new turbofan large domestic regional aircraft China has independently developed in accordance with international standards and also the entry of the ARJ21 aircraft into the global mainstream airline fleet.

China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines also announced the signing of plane purchase contracts with COMAC on Aug. 30 last year. The three plan to buy 35 ARJ21-700s each, all featuring a 90-seat all-economy class layout, and each will receive three of the planes this year.

The ARJ21 has a range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers. COMAC delivered 32 of the model to Jiangxi Airlines, Chengdu Airlines and Genghis Khan Airlines. The model has served 55 routes in North China and in its northeast, southwest and other regions, reaching 55 cities and safely transporting 890,000 passengers.

China Eastern Airlines will conduct flight training and verification of aircraft routes after receiving its ARJ21s. It is also striving to gain an operation certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and start commercial passenger flights in September this year, it told Yicai Global.

China Southern Airlines has opted to first deploy the ARJ21 aircraft at its Guangzhou base to develop a feeder market and amass enough operating experience and then deploy it to Beijing’s new Daxing Airport to expand the service scope of the Guangzhou-Beijing dual hub, a company executive said.

Air China’s first ARJ21 is expected to start its maiden flight along Beijing-Xilinhot route in early July at the earliest, and will also ply the Beijing-Inner Mongolia Baotou, Ulanhot, Hohhot and other northern regional routes.

A turbofan or fanjet is an airbreathing jet engine widely used in aircraft propulsion.

Editor: Ben Armour