Comac plans to build the center wing box of its 156-seat C919 narrowbody airliner of carbon fiber composite, but will stick to aluminum for the outer wing to limit technical risk. The manufacturer aims to develop a completely composite wing for later versions of the aircraft, says an industry source closely involved in the project. The company’s other project, the ARJ21, is suffering more serious delays.

China’s Avic Aircraft is establishing another airline to operate its own products. A subsidiary, Xi’an Aircraft International, has agreed with Anhui provincial government companies and Okay Airways to create Anhui Airlines, which within 10 years will operate 50 MA60s and MA600s, Chinese updates of the Antonov An-24. The Avic aircraft-making conglomerate already partly owns Joy Air, another MA60 operator. Airframer Comac has invested in Chengdu Airlines, which in turn has ordered ARJ21 aircraft from Comac.

Low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has promised Singapore Changi Airport that it will grow its Singaporean fleet from 10 to 12 aircraft by March 2011 to support expanding operations. The airline, which carried 4.9 million passengers in the 12 months to March 31, up 54% from the previous year, has also made a commitment to further increase its traveler numbers and add new routes and flights out of Singapore.