Boeing 737 plant in China targets 100 jets as MAX 8 deemed fit to fly

The US plane maker, the world's largest, aims to deliver 100 passenger jets from its planned production finishing facility in Zhoushan as it takes on Airbus.

A wing of a Boeing 737 MAX. The plane maker's China plant aims to deliver 100 jetliners a year. Matt Mills McKnight / Reuters

Boeing’s new 737 completion plant in China will aim to deliver 100 planes a year, with the first expected to take place in 2018, China’s official Xinhua news agency said today.

Construction on the factory, which Boeing will operate with Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac), will begin at the end of March, Xinhua reported, citing the industrial aviation park in the coastal city of Zhoushan where the plant will be located.

The plant, which will install interiors and paint liveries, will create 2,000 jobs, Xinhua added. It will be Boeing’s first 737 completion factory outside the United States.

Its establishment comes as the US plane maker and its European rival Airbus fiercely compete for orders in China. Airbus already has two plants in China.

Boeing said its 737 Max 8 has been awarded US Federal Aviation Authority certification for commercial use and that it now in final stages of preparing for the first delivery of the aircraft to customers in coming months

* Reuters

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter