Everbright Financial Leasing has signed a purchase framework agreement with Comac for 30 C919s.

In a statement, Everbright says it will continue to work with Comac on aircraft development, and deepen cooperation in marketing aircraft both at home and abroad.

The in-development narrowbody took its first flight on 5 May, and Comac is targeting to achieve certification and enter the aircraft into service in 2020-2021. Everbright's order brings the C919's order book to 600.

The lessor is a unit under China Everbright Group. The conglomerate had last month signed a memorandum of understanding with AirAsia and the Henan Government Working Group to set up a low-cost carrier in Zhengzhou.

At that time, AirAsia had also said that it has "started exploring" the C919 for its fleet needs. In the Comac statement, however, there was no mention of AirAsia as being involved in the deal.

China Everbright is also a major shareholder in China Aircraft Leasing Group, which holds orders for 20 C919s.

Source: Cirium Dashboard