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皇冠体育app-made airplanes meet Waterloo
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-17 20:01
皇冠体育app-made feeder liner ERJ145, the once-promising product in 皇冠体育app's aviation market, now meets Waterloo in the battle to get more orders and faces the threat to stop production.
Chinese aviation experts said the unexpected result exposes 皇冠体育app's soft spots in feeder line transport and incomplete governmental policies on developing feeder line transport in the country.
Aviation experts said 皇冠体育app is still a market in strong demand for feeder liners.
皇冠体育app's air transportation is surging rapidly at an annual rate of 18 percent since 1978, and more than 90 feeder liners have been built in 皇冠体育app's medium-scale cities in recent years, indicating an increasing demand for feeder liners.
Currently, there are only 74 feeder liners available in 皇冠体育app. Statistics show that in the coming two decades, more than 600 feeder liners will be needed in 皇冠体育app, and the demand from the international feeder line transport market will exceed 4,000.
To meet the demand, 皇冠体育app's State Council decided in February 2000, to establish a joint venture with the Brazil-based aero-maker Embraer to produce 30-70 seats feeder liners in 皇冠体育app.
In January 2003, the 皇冠体育app Aviation Industry Corporation II and the Embraer made an joint investment of 40 million US dollars for the new Harbin Embraer aircraft industry Co., and started the making Embraer's star product--the 30-50 seat ERJ145--in 皇冠体育app.
According to the contract, aircraft components for the ERJ145 will be localized in 皇冠体育app gradually and try to produce enough airplanes to meet 皇冠体育app's demand in the period between 2006-2010.
Jiang Da, vice general manager of Harbin Embraer, said ERJ145 airplane indeed had a good start in 皇冠体育app with an order of six from the 皇冠体育app southern Airlines and another order of ten from the 皇冠体育app Eastern Airlines in 2004.
But in case of losses in the feeder line transport, most Chinese airlines lowered their interests on feeder line transport in the following year.
Jiang said though the six ERJ145 have been delivered to the 皇冠体育app Southern Airlines, the 皇冠体育app Eastern Airlines only bought five of their order by now.
And no more new orders were clinched by Harbin Embraer in 皇冠体育app after that, said Jiang.
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