The next decade will be prime years for regional turboprop aircraft, which presents great opportunities for China Aviation Industry Corporation(AVIC)'s subsidiary Xi'an Aircraft International Corporation (XAIC) to explore broader markets. Currently, XAIC is accelerating its research and production on new regional turboprop aircraft, Chen Fusheng, vice-general manager of AVIC said on the 4th Annual China Commercial Aircraft Forum 2012 held on June 14.

Chen pointed out that high fuel prices and carbon emission have further stimulated demands for turboprop aircraft in aviation industry. Actually, the amount of delivered turboprop aircraft has accounted for 50% of regional jets in the past five years.

Chen predicted that, there will come the next new prime period for the development of regional turboprop aircraft around 2017, for airlines need new aircraft to meet increasing market demand. And in the next two decades, 3,000 turboprop aircraft or so are estimated to be delivered around the world, among which 70-seat turboprop will be the mainstream of the market with a delivery amount of 2,465.

XAIC mainly engages in production and sales of regional turboprop aircraft and MA60 series aircraft is its main product. XAIC targets for claiming 40% quotient in the global market of regional turboprop aircraft by 2018.

Chen also added that, MA60 series entered international market in 2005; and now, 72 MA60s have been operated on more than 200 international and domestic routes. Moreover, XAIC plans to sign a new purchase contract with Okay Airways Company Limited for MA60 aircraft.

It is learned that the list price is around 90 million yuan for a MA60 aircraft and about 110 million yuan for a MA600 aircraft.

Chen further disclosed that apart from MA60 and MA600, XAIV is exploiting new regional turboprop aircraft - MA700, which is expected to have its first flight in 2015 and to be delivered to customers in 2017.