China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has taken a significant step forward in its commercial aviation endeavors by launching its C919 aircraft on the highly competitive Shanghai-Guangzhou route. The inaugural flight, MU5309, departed from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 9:37 a.m., successfully transporting 162 passengers to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, arriving at 11:55 a.m. The return journey, flight MU5316, is set to depart Guangzhou at 1:30 p.m., reaching Shanghai by 4:00 p.m.
With a growing fleet that now includes six C919 planes, China Eastern is strategically enhancing its connectivity between two of China's most prominent cities, offering up to 36 daily flights on this route. This expansion underscores the robust demand and the airline’s commitment to providing efficient air travel solutions.
The addition of the sixth C919 jetliner last month marks a pivotal moment for CEA as it accelerates the commercial operations of China's domestically built large passenger aircraft. Just a year after the first C919 commercial flight, China Eastern is positioning itself to capture a more significant share of the global civil aviation market, which has long been dominated by industry giants Boeing and Airbus.
The C919 has already proven its versatility over the past year, 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. These developments highlight the C919’s growing presence in China’s aviation landscape and its potential impact on the international market.
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China Eastern launches C919 flights on Shanghai-Guangzhou route
cgtn.com