Russia's Irkutsk Aviation Plant hopes to increase its annual production of MC-21 planes up to 20 aircraft by 2020, the plant's general director told Sputnik on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the maiden flight of the aircraft was carried out in the Siberian city of Irkutsk.

"The plant should increase the production level up to 20 aircraft a year by 2020 and we should manufacture 70 vehicles a year by 2023. It is very difficult task, even taking into consideration the plant's 83-year experience," Aleksander Veprev said.

The official added that the plant should provide its customers with the first aircraft in 2019.

The MC-21 is a short- to mid-range Russian jet airliner capable of taking between 150 and 211 passengers on board.