Taiwan Aerospace seeks a share in AE-100 project

TAIWAN AEROSPACE (TAC) has said that it wants to take a 5-10% stake in China's proposed AirExpress AE-100 regional-jet programme.

Long-running rumours of Taiwanese interest in the planned Chinese programme were confirmed by TAC chairman Jack Sun, when he reportedly expressed a wish to take a small share in the estimated $2.5 billion programme.

TAC is understood to have visited China at least twice this year and met Aviation Industries of China and partner Singapore Technologies. The effect of recent deterioration in Taiwan/China political relations is unclear, however. Industry sources are sceptical about TAC's chances of joining: aside from political difficulties, TAC does not have the estimated $125-250 million participation fee.

Source: Flight International