China Eastern sees smaller-than-expected C919 delivery this year

(Reuters) – China Japanese Airways Corp Ltd mentioned it expects to obtain fewer C919 narrowbody planes this 12 months than beforehand forecast, because it awaits certification of the native rival to the Boeing Co 737 MAX and Airbus SE A320neo.

The airline mentioned it expects to obtain just one C919, manufactured by state-owned planemaker COMAC, down from the three beforehand forecast.

China Japanese has positioned agency orders for 5 of the planes, and the opposite 4 deliveries are actually anticipated in 2023, in response to half-year outcomes launched this week that offered the primary replace to its fleet plans since its annual report launched in April.

China Japanese additionally positioned an order with Airbus for 100 of its A320neo household planes in July for supply from 2023 to 2027, with the majority anticipated from 2024.

Daiwa analyst Kevin Lau, citing a convention name with China Japanese administration on Wednesday, advised purchasers in a notice that the airline was not involved by manufacturing points at Airbus which have delayed deliveries to airways and lessors in latest months as a result of it believed its massive order would give it precedence.

“For the C919, China Japanese would be the first world airline to place it in industrial operation,” he mentioned. “Nonetheless, administration added that new orders of the C919 could be topic to Airbus’ capability ramp-up.”

China Japanese didn’t reply instantly to a request for remark.

By way of Airbus deliveries, China Japanese’s newest forecast would see it take 19 A320neo household planes this 12 months, 16 in 2023 and 28 in 2024. That compares with its April forecast for 22 this 12 months, 13 in 2023 and none in 2024.

China’s aviation regulator mentioned final month it was in search of business suggestions on particular situations for the C919, in an indication that certification is shut after years of delays.

Air China Ltd and China Southern Airways Co Ltd and lots of Chinese language plane lessors have additionally positioned orders for the C919, however none have issued a agency forecast for supply dates.

(Reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney and Sophie Yu in Beijing; Enhancing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)