The C919, China's first homegrown large passenger aircraft, marks a significant milestone as it celebrates one year of commercial operations. On Monday night, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) delivered its sixth C919 aircraft to China Eastern Airlines, according to China Media Group.
This new jet, registered as B-919G, successfully completed a ferry flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Tuesday morning. This delivery is the first of an additional 100 C919 aircraft ordered by China Eastern, underscoring the airline's confidence in the aircraft's performance and reliability.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the C919 conducted its inaugural commercial flight on May 28, 2023, flying from Shanghai to Beijing. Over the past year, the aircraft has been operating on three key routes from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport: to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan Province, Beijing Daxing International Airport, and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in Shaanxi Province.
China Eastern highlighted that the sixth C919 aircraft features significant upgrades, including enhanced cockpit system displays and an improved cabin entertainment system, offering passengers a more comfortable and modern flying experience.
Expanding Horizons
In a move to extend its reach beyond the Chinese mainland, China Eastern announced a charter flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai scheduled for June 1. This will be the C919's first commercial flight operating outside the Chinese mainland, further solidifying the aircraft's presence in the international aviation market.
Looking ahead, China Eastern plans to expand its C919 fleet to 10 aircraft by the end of the year, reinforcing its commitment to leveraging domestically produced aviation technology to meet growing passenger demand.
Reference(s):
C919 commercial operation anniversary: New delivery and jet upgrade
cgtn.com
