China’s regional jets receive first order from Africa

Chengdu Airlines President Zha Guangyi gifts a model of the ARJ21 jet to Fidele Dimou, Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and the Merchant Marine of the Republic of Congo (left) and Congo ambassador Daniel Owassa (right) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on January 15, 2018. [Photo: Chinanews.cn]

The China-developed twin-engine regional jet ARJ21 has just received its first order from Africa, according to Chinese news site ThePaper.cn.

As the first customer of the aircraft in Africa, the Republic of Congo sent a delegation of seven officials to China at the invitation of Civil Aviation Administration of China, in a bid to promote bilateral cooperation of civil aviation between the two countries. 

An ARJ21 jet made by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) takes off from Shanghai for Chengdu Airlines at the Shanghai Dachang Air Base on December 28, 2017. [File Photo: IC]

The group, led by Congo Republic's Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and the Merchant Marine Fidele Dimou, arrived at Chengdu, southwestern China's Sichuan province, to experience the performance of ARJ21 on a test flight flown by Chengdu Airlines.

Dimou said to experience the flight is the best way to examine the reliability and comfort of the plane.

He noted to accelerate the aviation industry is a national will of the Congo Republic. And he believes in the quality of Chinese products, so the country did not hesitate at all before signing the deal.

"I hope Chengdu Airlines could carry out cooperation with their counterparts in Congo Republic, and help us to better operate the ARJ21 aircraft through its experiences and expertise," Dimou said.

"We are the first African customer of ARJ21. But I’m sure that Chinese regional jets will receive more orders in the future," Dimou remarked.