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China unveils first large passenger jetliner in bid to compete with Boeing, Airbus

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Chinese workers wave as a truck pulls out the first twin-engine 158-seater C919 passenger plane made by The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) during a ceremony at the company's hangar near the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. The first plane produced by a Chinese government initiative to compete in the market for large passenger jetliners has been unveiled in Shanghai. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

The first twin-engine 158-seater C919 passenger plane made by The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) is pulled out of the company's hangar during a ceremony near the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. The first plane produced by a Chinese government initiative to compete in the market for large passenger jetliners has been unveiled in Shanghai. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

The first twin-engine 158-seater C919 passenger plane made by The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) is pulled out of the company's hangar during a ceremony near the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. The first plane produced by a Chinese government initiative to compete in the market for large passenger jetliners has been unveiled in Shanghai. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

The first plane produced by a Chinese government initiative to compete in the market for large passenger jetliners has been unveiled in Shanghai.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China showed off its twin-engine C919 in a ceremony Monday attended by some 4,000 government officials and other guests at a hangar near the Pudong International Airport.

China's aviation market is growing fast but relies on Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The ruling Communist Party wants to claw back some of the commercial benefits that flow to foreign suppliers.

The state-owned manufacturer says it has received orders from 21 customers for a total of 517 aircraft, mostly from Chinese carriers but also from GE Capital Aviation Services.