China Eastern Airlines Launches Homegrown C919 Jet into Commercial Service

China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd has made history by entering China's domestically developed narrow-body C919 jet into passenger service.

This milestone achievement marks a significant step forward in China's ambitious endeavor to establish itself as a self-reliant player in the aviation industry.

The C919 is the brainchild of the state-backed Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and has been in development for 15 years. Its primary objective is to compete with industry giants Airbus SE and Boeing Co.

China to Join Aviation Market with Homegrown Jet

Nikkei Asia tells us in a report that President Xi Jinping has praised the C919 project as a testament to Chinese innovation and a symbol of industrial prowess and national pride.

This sentiment was echoed in the Beijing Daily, which stated, "After generations of endeavor, we finally broke the West's aviation monopoly and rid ourselves of the humiliation of '800 million shirts for one Boeing.'"

The reference harks back to China's early years of economic reform when it mainly produced low-value goods.

C919 Records First Commercial Flight

The inaugural commercial flight of the C919 took place on Sunday, departing from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, where Comac and China Eastern Airlines are headquartered.

More than 10,000 people bid for the 30 tickets available for public purchase, with officials and journalists filling the remainder, according to state media.

The aircraft successfully landed two hours later at Beijing Capital Airport, where it was greeted by a water cannon ceremony, marking a smooth and promising first journey.

Passengers disembarking from the plane expressed confidence in the C919, stating that the flight was even smoother than anticipated.

Following its inaugural flight, the C919 is scheduled to return to Shanghai and embark on a more extended two-way flight to Chengdu, a city in southwestern China.

More C919s to Fly Soon

China Eastern Airlines, in March 2021, placed an order for five C919 jets, with the first delivery taking place in December of the same year. The remaining four planes are expected to be received throughout 2023.

As of the end of 2022, Comac had secured 1,035 orders from 32 customers, and it is reported that the figure has since surpassed 1,200, according to a company official. The planemaker aims to produce 150 C919 jets annually within the next five years, a goal reported by domestic media in January.

Although the C919 is assembled in China, it relies heavily on Western components, including engines and avionics, sourced from companies such as General Electric Co, Safran SA, and Honeywell International Inc.

While the domestic market is considered sufficiently large for the C919, the international market presents challenges due to the lack of certification from European and U.S. regulators.

The C919's predecessor, the ARJ21, a short-haul 90-seat aircraft, has been in commercial operation since 2016 and is flown by major Chinese airlines and Indonesia's TransNusa.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.