Urumqi Air, the regional Chinese carrier has agreed with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) that the airline will take delivery of two ARJ21-700s by the end of this year and plans to receive three additional ARJ21-700s in 2019. The arrangements were finalised at the 12th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition on Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 and follows on from the letter of intent signed by the HNA Group with COMAC at this years Farnborough International Airshow held back in July 2018.
"The purchase of the new model is expected to inject new impetus into Urumqi Air and to help the airline expand its regional air network," Han Luhai, Chairman of Urumqi Air said on November 6th.
With outstanding performance in extremely cold and high-elevation environments, the ARJ21 can accommodate the somewhat harsh conditions at airports in the central and western regions of China and navigate the complicated air routes in the regions that Urumqi Air serve.
Last month, COMAC signed a deal with new regional start-up Genghis Khan Airlines of Mongolia to provide them with a number of ARJ21's from the end of this year, ready to enter service early next year when the airline launches operations. Genghis Khan Airlines has ambitious plans to operate a fleet of 25 aircraft within five years, serving at least forty different destinations. operating 60 services to 40 destinations within five years. It also plans to double the fleet within eight years of starting and expand its route network to more than 70 destinations.
