HONG KONG -- China's state-owned aircraft maker has signed a deal to sell up to 60 of its new regional jets to a leasing company in a deal worth up to $2.3 billion.
In a joint statement late Monday, Commercial Aircraft Corp. said the agreement signed with China Aircraft Leasing, a Hong Kong-listed company, includes a confirmed order for 30 ARJ21-700 jets and an option to buy 30 more.
The companies said the aircraft will be leased to an unidentified Indonesian airline that one of China Aircraft Leasing's shareholders, Friedman Pacific, plans to invest in.
The ARJ21-700 is part of efforts by China, one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing air travel markets, to develop a homegrown aviation industry.
The ARJ21 took its maiden commercial flight last month, a decade behind schedule.
