Aviation

All-Boeing operator Xiamen Airlines takes delivery of its first A321neo

Xiamen Airlines, which had previously relied on Boeing, received its first A321neo Airbus aircraft on Sunday in Fujian, in the province of Fujian in East China.

The company announced that it will begin using the aircraft for commercial flights in the spring of this year, covering routes to and from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan Province, southwest China, Beijing Daxing International Airport, and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

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The A321neo aircraft operated by Xiamen Airlines is powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines and has 208 seats, 200 of which are in economy class and eight in business class. For more personal storage, the overhead bins in the cabin are 60 percent larger.

Boeing has been a key supplier to Xiamen Airlines since the company’s founding in 1984. It now operates 210 Boeing aircraft, including models from the 737, 787, and 757 series. As a result, Xiamen Airlines is the Chinese airline with the largest Boeing fleet.

Xiamen Airlines may be experiencing capacity issues, according to market observers, as some of its Boeing aircraft are grounded and the arrival dates of additional aircraft are still unclear.

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In 22 September 2022, Xiamen Airlines has placed a firm order for 40 A320neo Family aircraft switching to Airbus for its fleet growth, making the airline the newest Airbus customer. The agreement was announced by the major shareholder China Southern Airlines to the Shanghai Stock exchange.

The Chinese aviation market has been slowly recovering in recent months, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced at the end of 2022 that it will remove COVID-19 travel restrictions starting on January 8 in an effort to boost international passenger traffic, which had been reduced for three years as a result of the pandemic. This announcement also gives manufacturers confidence.

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Aviation

China Eastern Receives Its Ninth C919 Aircraft, Marking a New Milestone

China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of its ninth COMAC C919 aircraft, continuing its lead as the launch customer for China’s domestic narrow-body airliner.

On Thursday, the airline received the latest addition to its fleet, registered as B-657T, marking another step in China’s ambitious efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global aerospace market.

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This delivery is part of a major achievement for COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), which has now delivered a total of 10 comac c919 in 2024 alone, a remarkable increase from just three jets delivered by the end of 2023.

The C919 program represents China’s entry into the competitive market for commercial aircraft, aiming to rival the dominance of manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing in the narrow-body sector.

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One standout feature of the c919 is its innovative in-flight technology, particularly its Wi-Fi system. Developed by the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), this system allows passengers to connect to the “CEAIR-WIFI” wireless hotspot, providing seamless access to in-flight entertainment.

Through the website www.muflyer.com, travelers can enjoy a range of features including “Air Cinema” and “Air Games,” which enhance the flying experience.

Looking ahead, COMAC’s ambitions are not limited to narrow-body aircraft. At the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, c919 aircraft price made waves with the announcement of over 100 new aircraft orders.

A significant highlight was a high-profile agreement with Air China for the development of the C929, a widebody aircraft set to compete c919 vs a320 and c919 vs 737 with these models.