China’s aviation industry reached a historic milestone as the country’s first domestically-manufactured large passenger jet, the C919, successfully completed its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023.
Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 aircraft is China’s first self-developed large jet airliner.
C919’s first flight
The C919’s inaugural flight departed at 10:32 am on Sunday from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and landed at Beijing Capital International Airport at 12:31 pm, where it was welcomed with a special water-salute ceremony. State TV captured the momentous occasion when the C919 gracefully ascended into the skies above Shanghai, embarking on its journey to the capital city of Beijing.
China’s first domestically developed passenger aircraft C919 enters the commercial aviation market with the first flight from Shanghai to Beijing ✈️🇨🇳pic.twitter.com/EAr2dXky5E
— TVI Today (@TVIToday) May 29, 2023
Completing the Shanghai-Beijing leg of the voyage in under three hours, the C919 carried over 130 passengers, demonstrating its capabilities as a reliable mode of air travel.
Liu Peng, a confident passenger, expressed his trust in the Chinese aviation industry, stating that the C919 will only improve with time. Emotions ran high as LV Boyuan, a 21-year-old student and aviation enthusiast, eagerly awaited his turn to board the C919, speaking of his excitement and anticipation for the flight.
Competition with global players
Designed to compete with the jets produced by European aviation giant Airbus and American aircraft manufacturer Boeing, the C919 boasts a larger seating capacity and extended range compared to its predecessor, the ARJ21.
Experience the first commercial flight on China's #C919 pic.twitter.com/D3ymOEOIQq
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) May 28, 2023
Although the 164-seater relies on Western components, including engines and avionics, it marks a significant step forward for China’s aviation ambitions and positions China to rival global aviation leaders.
Future plans and orders
Comac, the driving force behind the C919, envisions a future where 150 planes are manufactured annually. The company proudly announces that it has already secured over 1,200 orders for the C919. However, experts speculate that many of these orders may be letters of intent from domestic customers. State-backed China Eastern Airline has already placed orders for five of these cutting-edge aircraft indicating confidence in China’s homegrown passenger jet.
As China advances in the aviation industry, the C919 serves as a testament to the nation’s technological prowess and aspirations. President Xi Jinping himself recognized the significance of the project, having sat in the cockpit of a mock-up C919 a few years ago. He hailed the development as one of China’s most innovative achievements.
The C919’s inaugural commercial flight comes after its successful maiden test flight in 2017, followed by subsequent rigorous trials.
