[Tee tiong huat]

COMAC had been considering producing such an aircraft as early as 2011. At this time, its ideas for the long-haul market included the C929 (290 seats) and the C939 (390) seats. Targeting hundreds of production aircraft) to be developed in around seven years. The project's cost was estimated at the time to be between $7 billion and $12 billion. By 2015, the parties involved had agreed to target a first flight in 2021, and the first deliveries by 2024.

Two years later, JV officially became known as CRAIC. At manufacturers elected to target the 2025-2028 period for CR929's first flight and deliveries. They hope aircraft would prove cheaper to operate than similar Airbus and Boeing aircraft, by a factor of around 10-15%.

Russia exits the program. As reported in August, Russia pulled out as a partner on CR929 program and become only a key supplier. A lot of turbulence within this program had stemmed from Russian mistrust of Western-made parts, as well as be'cos of war on Ukraine has Russian partnership urging their Chinese counterparts to source domestically.

What do you make of the proposed CRAIC CR929? Think it will pose a serious challenge to the current Airbus-Boeing widebody duopoly?.