China’s C919 Goes into Commercial Service


Now Shenzhen   |   May 29, 2023
People take photos as they watch a C919, China’s self-developed large passenger aircraft, at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai yesterday. The C919 kicked off its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing yesterday, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market. Xinhua

THE C919, China’s self-developed large passenger aircraft, completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing yesterday, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market.

The flight, operated by China Eastern Airlines, took off as MU9191 at 10:32 a.m. from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with 128 passengers on board.

The plane was greeted with a water salute after touching down at Beijing Capital International Airport at 12:31 p.m.

The C919 is China’s first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards and owns independent intellectual property rights.

The C919 project was launched in 2007.

Developed by Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC), the first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015.

In 2017, the plane accomplished its maiden flight.

“The first commercial flight is a coming-of-age ceremony of the new aircraft, and C919 will get better and better if it stands the test of the market,” said Zhang Xiaoguang, director of the marketing and sales department of COMAC. (Xinhua)

ARTICLE FROM: Shenzhen Daily