State broadcaster CCTV sent out live footage from the plane, which had no passenger seats installed for the maiden flight. The jet is a symbol of China's ambitions to muscle into a global jet market estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next two decades, as well as Beijing's broader "Made in China 2025" plan to spur home-made products, from medicines to robots. Then there is also the daunting task of selling the jet in a global market dominated by Boeing and Airbus. Without their certification, China would only be able to sell the jet to a handful of countries that accept its certification standards. Beijing is also already looking beyond the C919, with plans to develop a wide-body long-haul jet with Russia.

Source: bd News24 May 05, 2017 06:56 UTC