Nigeria would consider China's C919 plane for new airline

[beijingwalker]

Nigeria would consider China's C919 plane for new airline​

Reuters
October 2, 20224:17 AM GMT+8

MONTREAL, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Nigeria would consider buying China's newly-certified C919 passenger jet as it grows the country's fledgling carrier Nigeria Air to 30 planes by around 2025, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said on Saturday.

Sirika said the new airline would have a mixture of Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) planes, but added the carrier is also willing to look at the Chinese narrowbody jet, which Chinese regulators certified on Friday.

"We haven't looked at that C919. But if it's as good as the others then why not," he told Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nation's aviation agency's triennial assembly in Montreal, Canada.

On Friday, China hailed the development of its first medium-haul passenger jet as the embodiment of the country's drive towards self-sufficiency, with safety approval awarded to a plane that aims to challenge Western aircraft giants for orders.

The first C919 aircraft, designed to compete with popular single-aisle models made by Airbus and Boeing, will be delivered by the end of the year, state Xinhua News Agency said.

It remains unclear when the plane might be certified by the United States or Europe, opening the way to sales in most foreign markets, but industry analysts say it will be up to a decade before China can seriously tackle the existing Boeing-Airbus duopoly.

"China and Nigeria (have a) very cordial and friendly relationship with mutual benefits," Sirika said.

For decades, China has loaned billions of dollars to Africa to build railroads, power plants and highways as it deepened ties with the continent while extracting minerals and oil.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is the top importer of Chinese goods, hoovering up $23 billion worth in 2021.

Nigeria's poor transport and power networks have stymied economic growth for decades, holding back the distribution of wealth in Africa's biggest economy where 40% of people live below the national poverty line.

However, the country is growing its aviation sector, where traffic is now above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, Sirika said. The airline is one of President Muhammadu Buhari's 2015 election campaign promises.

Nigeria would consider China's C919 plane for new airline

Nigeria would consider buying China's as it grows the country's fledgling carrier Nigeria Air to 30 planes by around 2025, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said on Saturday.

www.reuters.com

 

[beijingwalker]

C919 just got the license 2 days ago, some countries have already shown interest.

 

[etylo]

Good news and start for chinese airline industry.

 

[beijingwalker]

CCTV reporter becomes the first passanger of C919 flying from Shanghai to Beijing

 

[Ali_Baba]

Very brave of Nigeria to jump on this early - would not be suprised if there is a back hander there somewhere. As a new platform, it needs time to mature and logistic chains to be setup etc.

Talking about backhanders - I do wonder how long before the new PDM goverment gets PIA to sign on the dotted line for C919's ( China - be warned - they are expensive politicans to buy )

 

[casual]

Very brave of Nigeria to jump on this early - would not be suprised if there is a back hander there somewhere. As a new platform, it needs time to mature and logistic chains to be setup etc.

Talking about backhanders - I do wonder how long before the new PDM goverment gets PIA to sign on the dotted line for C919's ( China - be warned - they are expensive politicans to buy )

Expressing interest and asking for a quote is free. I expected more countries/airlines to do this if only to get a better deal from boeing and airbus.

 

[Hack-Hook]

a question won't it be more efficient to use turboprop engine instead of turbo fan engine for such passenger jets that have subsonic speed (around mach 0.5-0.6) ?

 

[casual]

a question won't it be more efficient to use turboprop engine instead of turbo fan engine for such passenger jets that have subsonic speed (around mach 0.5-0.6) ?

No