China’s ARJ21 regional jet will pick up foreign orders this year, says chief designer Wu Guanghui, predicting the market breakthrough that the project needs to establish itself as a serious competitor to Embraer and Bombardier. Manufacturer Avic 1 says it has 171 orders so far, but that figure may include options on 50 of the aircraft. All orders have been taken from Chinese buyers, except for two ARJ21s for Lao Airlines. Avic 1 has described the initial model of the aircraft, the ARJ21-700, as tailored for the domestic market.

The Chinese authorities are insisting that the market will determine control of China Eastern Airlines, offering the massively indebted Shanghai carrier little hope of official help as it struggles to avoid the clutches of larger rival Air China.

The freight business of Asiana Airlines will develop further as a result of an equity link with the country’s largest logistics company, Korea Express. Asiana’s parent, Kumho Asiana Group, is leading a group of companies that has contracted to buy 60% of Korea Express. When the consortium was chosen as preferred bidder last month, Kumho Asiana said that Korea Express and Asiana would jointly offer air express services and that the combined logistics business would enter foreign markets.