Domestically-produced C919 and ARJ21 arrive in HK - RTHK
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Domestically-produced C919 and ARJ21 arrive in HK

2023-12-12 HKT 15:55
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Two home-grown aircraft, the C919 and ARJ21, arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday as part of their first visit to the city.

The two mainland-made planes touched down at the Hong Kong International Airport at around 2pm, and will be on display until Sunday.

If the weather permits, the C919 will conduct a flight demonstration over Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island on Saturday.

The ARJ21 is the first narrow-body regional aircraft independently designed and manufactured by China. It has a maximum range of 3,700 kilometres and can accommodate up to 97 passengers. It began commercial operation in 2016 and over 100 planes have since been delivered to several airlines.

The C919, meanwhile, is a larger passenger aircraft that can carry as many as 192 passengers and fly up to 5,555 kilometres. China Eastern Airlines acquired the first plane in 2022, and since then there have been over 1,000 orders for the jet from mainland airlines.

A tourist from Singapore, surnamed Li, was at the Chek Lap Kok airport to witness the landing of the two aircraft.

"It's very difficult to take pictures of mainland aircraft abroad. I feel a little excited, because Chinese aircraft rarely go abroad, and even coming to Hong Kong is a rare thing," he said.

A mainland aviation expert, Jason Li, told RTHK that the successful landings at a non-mainland airport proved that domestically-produced planes can fully comply with international civil aviation standards.

As for the flight demonstration on Saturday, Li noted that clear weather conditions are the prerequisite for a low-altitude flight over Victoria Harbour.

If it is cloudy on the day, there is a chance the event will be cancelled, he said.

Domestically-produced C919 and ARJ21 arrive in HK