China's homegrown jet seeks to spread its wings in Indonesia
A jet emblazoned with the navy and yellow stripes of Indonesian carrier TransNusa took off for a test flight from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport last month. The ARJ21, developed by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, or COMAC, is the nation's first homegrown passenger plane. It is set to make its long-awaited overseas debut after receiving approval from Indonesia's Transportation Ministry, a significant step in China's jet ambitions. The plane seats from 78 to 90 passengers, and has been flying commercially in China since 2016. But the model has never been used by a carrier outside China. COMAC looks to finally break into overseas markets by leveraging its partnership with compatriot China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC). Approved for commercial flights in 2011, TransNusa Aviation used to operate several domestic routes out of El Tari Airport in eastern Indonesia before the coronavirus pandemic forced it to ground planes. The carrier is now preparing to resume service, including using new ARJ21s provided by its controlling shareholder and COMAC strategic partner CALC. CALC invested $28m to obtain an indirect stake of 35.68% in TransNusa in March 2020. It also signed a deal with COMAC last year for the purchase and purchase rights to 60 total ARJ21s, part of which will go to TransNusa. ARJ21s have struggled to find overseas buyers, due to its lack of type certificate in the US and Europe -- the de facto global standard for aviation safety. Because of this, China has promoted its homegrown jet mainly in countries where it holds more clout, such as in Africa and or among participants of Beijing's Belt and Road infrastructure-building initiative. In 2014, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang toured African nations to drum up interest in the ARJ21. The Republic of Congo agreed to buy three jets, granting the model a type certificate in 2016, and sending pilots to train in China in 2018. But global aircraft demand has plunged due to COVID-19. COMAC has not said whether it actually ended up delivering ARJ21s to the Republic of Congo. Story has more.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-01-12/general/chinas-homegrown-jet-seeks-to-spread-its-wings-in-indonesia
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China's homegrown jet seeks to spread its wings in Indonesia
A jet emblazoned with the navy and yellow stripes of Indonesian carrier TransNusa took off for a test flight from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport last month. The ARJ21, developed by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, or COMAC, is the nation's first homegrown passenger plane. It is set to make its long-awaited overseas debut after receiving approval from Indonesia's Transportation Ministry, a significant step in China's jet ambitions. The plane seats from 78 to 90 passengers, and has been flying commercially in China since 2016. But the model has never been used by a carrier outside China. COMAC looks to finally break into overseas markets by leveraging its partnership with compatriot China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC). Approved for commercial flights in 2011, TransNusa Aviation used to operate several domestic routes out of El Tari Airport in eastern Indonesia before the coronavirus pandemic forced it to ground planes. The carrier is now preparing to resume service, including using new ARJ21s provided by its controlling shareholder and COMAC strategic partner CALC. CALC invested $28m to obtain an indirect stake of 35.68% in TransNusa in March 2020. It also signed a deal with COMAC last year for the purchase and purchase rights to 60 total ARJ21s, part of which will go to TransNusa. ARJ21s have struggled to find overseas buyers, due to its lack of type certificate in the US and Europe -- the de facto global standard for aviation safety. Because of this, China has promoted its homegrown jet mainly in countries where it holds more clout, such as in Africa and or among participants of Beijing's Belt and Road infrastructure-building initiative. In 2014, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang toured African nations to drum up interest in the ARJ21. The Republic of Congo agreed to buy three jets, granting the model a type certificate in 2016, and sending pilots to train in China in 2018. But global aircraft demand has plunged due to COVID-19. COMAC has not said whether it actually ended up delivering ARJ21s to the Republic of Congo. Story has more.<br/>
