Orders for the C919, the first China-made large passenger aircraft, hit 400 as Industrial Bank Financial Leasing Co Ltd signed a contract for 20 orders on Monday.

The leasing company, which is a subsidiary of Industrial Bank, is the 16th customer for the C919, and will also be the launch customer for the aircraft's business variant in the future, according to their agreement.

The new orders reflect huge demand in the civil aviation market and show consumer confidence in the C919, said a spokesperson from Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd.

The aircraft builder has already started airframe production and the first flight is scheduled for the end of 2015, he said.