Indonesian airline will be first to fly fleet entirely of ARJ21s
Comac signs 60-jet deal with Hong Kong leasing group, worth up to US$2.3 billion — largest single order yet for the Chinese-built airliner
An Indonesian airline is to become the world’s first to operate a fleet made up entirely of Chinese-built jets.
Hong Kong-listed China Aircraft Leasing Group has confirmed that it and its substantial shareholder Friedmann Pacific Asset Management will buy 30 ARJ21-700 jets with an option to buy 30 more, from state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, or Comac.
The US$2.3 billion deal was signed on Monday at the Farnborough International Airshow in England, Comac confirmed.
Friedmann Pacific is owned by China Aircraft Leasing’s former chief executive and second-largest shareholder Mike Poon.
It plans to invest in an Indonesian airline that will rent the planes for what will be an all-ARJ21 fleet, according to the companies, although they declined to name the airline.
The signing marks the biggest single order for the Chinese homegrown jet. The 90-seater aircraft only entered commercial service domestically late last month after repeated delays, and is still to be certified by the US’s Federal Aviation Administration, meaning it cannot fly in most international skies that base their entry requirements on the US certification.
The statement said Friedmann Pacific will assist Comac in obtaining the relevant validation so the aircraft can be operated in Indonesia.
