|
Canadian plane producer Bombardier said China had
demonstrated confidence in its CRJ200 regional jets after lifting a ban
imposed after one of the aircraft crashed killing 54 people last month.
"Bombardier confirms that the General Administration of Civil Aviation
of China (CAAC) has advised operators to resume Bombardier CRJ200
scheduled passenger service in
China," the Montreal-based firm said in a statement.
"The CAAC has conducted thorough maintenance and safety checks of the
CRJ200 fleet in China and their decision to reinstate scheduled service
clearly demonstrates their confidence in the Bombardier CRJ200s safety and
performance capabilities."
China's official Xinhua news agency earlier reported that 18 CRJ200
planes had passed safety checks and would soon be allowed to resume
flying.
China has about 20 CRJ200 aircraft owned by seven different airlines.
Xinhua did not mention the fate of the other two planes.
Aviation authorities ordered the immediate grounding of all CRJ planes
produced by Canada's Bombardier a day after the crash in Inner Mongolia on
November 21.
The China Eastern Airlines jet plunged into a lake soon after take-off
from Baotou city. No reason for the crash has been made public, although
officials have ruled out terrorism or sabotage.
It was the deadliest aviation disaster in China since May 2002 when 112 were killed after their plane plunged into the ocean
near the northeastern port city of Dalian.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-12-24 11:11
