At 10 am on December 22, in the Hangar Phase I of Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd., YTO Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "YTO Aviation") and COMAC jointly held the ARJ21-700 world’s first passenger-to-cargo prototype aircraft Large opening cutting ceremony. This marks another crucial step taken by YTO Aviation as the global start-up user of the project on the road to fulfilling its firm commitment to join hands with national industries and support domestic freighters.

During the response to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, YTO Aviation used its self-organized team to overcome huge difficulties, grasping the transportation of epidemic prevention materials on the one hand, and expanding international routes on the other, not only successfully completing the mission of over 100 domestic and international material charter flights issued by the national, provincial and municipal governments at all levels , And also use international commercial flights to support the smooth flow of the international supply chain after the resumption of work and production. In the context of the current huge impact on the air passenger transport market, the huge role of air cargo in anti-epidemic rescue and supply chain reconstruction is further highlighted. This is also a good period of opportunity for domestic-made aircraft passenger-to-cargo projects.

Su Xiufeng, Vice Chairman of YTO Group and Chairman of YTO Aviation, said: "The first ARJ21 prototype with large openings for passenger-to-cargo conversion is an important milestone in the history of domestic aircraft development. It is also a symbol results of the strategic cooperation between YTO Group and COMAC. "

According to the China Aviation Industry's recent civil aircraft market forecast annual report, China's civil aviation cargo aircraft fleet is expected to reach 650 by 2040, including 157 large freighters, 197 medium wide-body freighters, and 296 small freighters.