China-made jetliner flies first regional route

CHENGDU - The ARJ21, China's first homemade regional jetliner, began serving its first regional air route on Wednesday.

The airplane flew from Chengdu, capital of southwestern province of Sichuan, to Shangrao City in east China's Jiangxi Province.

The ARJ21 will fly the regional line every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, according to its operator Chengdu Airlines.

Produced by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the ARJ21 is a jet with 78-90 seats and a flight range of 2,225 to 3,700 km. It could improve direct air service between small or medium cities. according to Chengdu Airlines.

China has in recent years sped up efforts to build its commercial aircraft industry. Besides the ARJ21-700, COMAC has also unveiled the larger C919 jet, a narrow-body jumbo jet designed to rival the updated Airbus A320 and the new Boeing B737.