China Unveils C919 Passenger Jet

China's first domestically produced passenger jet was presented at Asia's biggest airshow, which opened in Singapore, as Beijing seeks to woo international buyers.

With its C919 aircraft, Beijing wants to challenge the decades-long dominance of top plane-makers Airbus and Boeing while reducing its reliance on foreign technology.

The single-aisle model from COMAC is a potential competitor to the market-leading A320, made by Europe's Airbus, and the 737 MAX from US-based Boeing -- which will keep a low profile at the Singapore Airshow following a recent safety crisis.

At a media preview in the city-state, the C919 made its maiden flight outside China, sporting a functional white, green and navy-blue livery.

It will take part in daily flying displays at the six-day event, and features among the static exhibits at a sprawling convention center near Changi Airport.

A C919 plane in the China Eastern livery was among dozens of commercial and military aircraft on the ground. Beside it were two ARJ21s, smaller commercial jets also made by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

The C919 has been making commercial flights in China since May, and was displayed for the first time outside mainland China in Hong Kong in December.

While it has yet to attract buyers outside the country, the C919 scored its first order at the airshow from China's Tibet Airlines, which signed a contract to buy 40 of them and 10 ARJ21s.

A spokesperson for COMAC at the airshow would not give a value for the order.

More than 1,000 aviation and defense companies are taking part in the airshow, which is held every two years.

China, South Korea and the Czech Republic will have country pavilions for the first time, and Airbus is showcasing its new long-range A350-1000 plane.