First made-in-China big passenger plane unveiled

Shanghai

CHINA'S first big passenger plane rolled off the assembly line on Monday, as the Asian giant seeks to develop its own aviation sector and challenge foreign industry giants for prestige and market share.

The C919, a narrow-body jet which can seat 168 passengers, has been under production for over a year in a facility in Shanghai, where workers have been assembling components under the guidance of Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC).

For China, the plane represents years of efforts in a state-mandated drive to reduce dependence on European consortium Airbus and…