天骄航空即将投入运营
Genghis Khan Airlines, a newly established regional carrier in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, will receive its first batch of domestically manufactured ARJ21 aircraft by the end of the year, and launch its first flight early next year.
内蒙古自治区一家新成立的地区性航空公司，天骄航空，将于今年年底接收首批国产ARJ21飞机，明年年初开始首次飞行。
The airline will become the second customer of the ARJ21 - China's first home-built regional passenger jetliner - after Chengdu Airlines. Genghis Khan Airlines plans to establish a fleet of 25 ARJ21 aircraft within the next five years.
Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, the developer of the ARJ21, said this latest development shows that commercial use of the aircraft is being stepped up.
Genghis Khan Airlines signed an aircraft purchase agreement for ARJ21-700 aircraft with COMAC on Monday in Beijing. The two sides will also cooperate on airplane operations, skills development, services and maintenance, to meet the growing demand for air transportation in Inner Mongolia.
The establishment of Genghis Khan Airlines, which operates mainly from Hohhot Baita International Airport and is financed by Inner Mongolia Communications Investment (Group) Co Ltd, was approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March.
The twin-engine ARJ21 has been in commercial use for more than two years and has transported over 160,000 people. With 78 to 90 seats, the aircraft has a flight range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers.
"The ARJ21 aircraft has great performance under ultra-low temperatures and it is suitable for takeoff and landing at plateau airports in western China, which is in line with the requirements of the aviation market in Inner Mongolia," said Hao Yutao, chairman of Genghis Khan Airlines.