Final assembly of China's new regional jet, the ARJ-21, will begin this month after the completion of its key components -- the wings and fuselage, sources said on Wednesday.

The wings and fuselage, made by Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation Limited in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, were delivered to Shanghai Aviation Industry (Group) Company on Wednesday.

The first ARJ-21 -- meaning "advanced regional jet for the 21st Century" -- will be completed at the end of this year and its maiden flight will be conducted in March 2008, according to China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), parent company of Xi'an Aircraft and Shanghai Aviation.

Begun in 2002, the ARJ-21 project is the joint product of eight domestic aviation companies with 19 international component suppliers.

The ARJ-21 will have a passenger cabin 3.14 meters wide and 2.06 meters high with 78 to 105 seats. It will have an altitude ceiling of 39,000 feet.

So far, orders for 71 aircraft have been received, according to AVIC I.

They will be delivered to clients in the third quarter of 2009.

Source: Xinhua