China Southern Airlines welcomes its first domestically-made ARJ21 aircraft. (Provided to Newsgd.com)

China Southern Airlines welcomed its first domestically-made ARJ21 aircraft from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) on Sunday (June 28th) in Shanghai.

The aircraft took off from Shanghai Pudong Airport and landed at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 14:17. This is the first ARJ21 aircraft that COMAC delivered to China Southern Airlines. It is estimated that by 2024 China Southern will own as many as 35 ARJ21.

China Southern Airlines welcomes its first domestically-made ARJ21 aircraft. (Provided to Newsgd.com)

According to the announcement, China Southern Airlines plans to conduct ARJ21's first commercial flight on July 15 from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Jieyang Chaoshan Airport.

China Southern Airlines welcomes its first domestically-made ARJ21 aircraft. (Provided to Newsgd.com)

On the same day, COMAC also delivered the jetliners, with 90 seats in a full economy class configuration, to Air China and China Eastern Airlines at the Pudong base of its assembly manufacturing center. This marks the homegrown jetliner entering the domestic, mainstream civil aviation market.

China Southern Airlines welcomes its first domestically-made ARJ21 aircraft. (Provided to Newsgd.com)

ARJ21 is the first turbofan regional jet that China has developed and produced in accordance with international standards, and of which China owns intellectual property rights. With a cruise range spanning 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers and favorable performance, it meets operational requirements at airports in Central, Western and Northern China.

Reporter by Nan

Edited by Keane & Jerry