China's domestically produced large aircraft, the C919, has flown abroad for the first time to operate regular international commercial flights. According to a report by Japan's Nikkei Asia on August 13, this is an important milestone in China Commercial Aircraft Corporation’s (COMAC) expansion into overseas markets. The C919 is challenging Boeing and Airbus, which have long dominated the global commercial aircraft market.
On the 12th, a C919 aircraft of China National Aviation flew from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, completing the first regular international commercial flight of this model. Subsequently, China National Aviation will regularly operate flights between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar using the C919. The round-trip distance is approximately 1200 kilometers, with a flight time of about two hours.
According to reports, another regional aircraft of China Commercial Aircraft Corporation, the C909, has already begun operations overseas. It is currently in commercial service in countries such as Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. China now hopes that the C919 will not only compete with American Boeing and European Airbus in the domestic market, but also penetrate overseas markets. China Commercial Aircraft Corporation hopes to showcase the safety and cost-effectiveness of the C919 to the global aviation industry through its operational records accumulated on international routes.
According to China Commercial Aircraft Corporation, as of July 31, the C919 aircraft operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines has had a total of 57 routes opened up, serving 25 cities, with a passenger capacity of over 7.4 million passengers. The production capacity is steadily increasing, which also supports the simultaneous development of domestic aircraft. China Commercial Aircraft Corporation has clearly stated that it aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 200 aircraft by 2029.
