China's ARJ21 jet lands in Harbin in northeast China
Fire engines spray water on an ARJ21 that landed at Harbin Taiping International Airport yesterday in a traditional water salute ceremony.
China’s first domestically developed regional jet, ARJ21, began flying to northeast China today after the route became one of five new flight paths that Chengdu Airlines launched.
The airline, the first operator of the 90-seater jet, flew the ARJ21 between Chengdu in Sichuan Province and Harbin in Heilongjiang Province with a stopover in Jinan in Shandong Province.
Flight EU2239 took off from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 6:31am today and landed at Harbin Taiping International Airport at 11:28am.
“The opening of the new routes marks the beginning of ARJ21’s commercial operation in the northeast,” said Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China , the jet’s developer.
Another four regional routes have been launched between Harbin and four other cities, including Heihe City bordering Russia and the Wudalianchi Scenic Area, within Heilongjiang as the airline said it seeks to create a new operation base in Harbin to add to its current hub in Chengdu.
“The carrier aims to create a flight network, mainly operated by ARJ21, covering regional airports in Heilongjiang and other southeast provinces,” the airline said.
The airline's five ARJ21s are already flying in southwest, central and east China. They have flown over 65,000 passengers since commercial operations began in June 2016.
The jet has so far secured 453 orders from 21 customers at home and abroad.
Crew members with Chengdu Airlines pose in front of an ARJ21 at Harbin Taiping International Airport yesterday to celebrate the opening of five new routes to and from the city in Heilongjiang Province.
