(Yicai Global) Sept. 27 -- China's home-built aircraft 'Modern Ark' (MA) has operated in 18 countries for more than 12 years, carrying over 10 million passengers.

As China's first home-made aircraft to achieve scale operation with largest deliveries, Modern Ark has served 32 airlines on nearly 300 routes, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday, citing speakers addressing the 2017 regional aviation and domestic-built regional jet development forum hosted by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Some 108 MA planes have been delivered so far, serving over 10 million passengers.

Regional jets, or small passenger jets with fewer than 100 seats, is a core element of regional transportation, which is an important transport means that can help promote the movement of social resources and improve people's prosperity. Modern Ark 60, which has 50 to 60 seats, is China's first turboprop-powered regional jet that is designed and manufactured domestically and put into operation on a massive scale in accordance with the civil aviation airworthiness management requirements. It is a typical example of the development of China's civil aircraft industry.

AVIC will grasp the strategic opportunity in the development of regional aviation and regional jets in China, keep improving Modern Ark 60 and Modern Ark 600, which has 52 seats. It will vigorously push forward the research and development of the new generation of turboprop regional jet 'Modern Ark 700,' which has 60 to 80 seats. Furthermore, it will strive to continually improve marketing and customer services systems to become a provider of regional aviation system solutions and a promoter of the healthy and rapid development of the industrial chain, said Chen Yuanxian, deputy general manager of the company.