China Eastern Airlines made aviation history on Wednesday by launching regular flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong using China’s domestically produced C919 jetliner. This milestone makes the airline the first to operate scheduled commercial flights to Hong Kong with the homegrown aircraft.
The inaugural flight marks a significant step for the C919, which has been central to China’s ambitions to enter the competitive commercial aviation market dominated by Boeing and Airbus. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), the C919 is China’s first self-developed trunk jetliner that meets international airworthiness standards, boasting independent intellectual property rights.
China Eastern Airlines has shown strong confidence in the C919, having ordered 105 of these aircraft—the largest fleet of C919s worldwide. With Hong Kong now being the ninth city served by the airline’s C919 fleet on regular commercial routes, China Eastern plans to operate daily round-trip flights on this newly launched route, enhancing connectivity between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.
The C919 conducted its maiden commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing in May 2023, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market. Since January, the Shanghai-Beijing route operated by the C919 has become a regular fixture, demonstrating the jetliner’s reliability and performance in one of the world’s busiest air corridors.
Launched in 2007, the C919 project represents a significant leap forward in China’s aviation industry. The first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015. The aircraft’s development underscores China’s commitment to advancing its aerospace capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign aviation technology.
As the C919 continues to expand its presence across more cities, passengers can look forward to experiencing China’s innovation in aviation firsthand. The regular operation of the C919 between Shanghai and Hong Kong not only signifies a commercial success but also symbolizes the growing technological prowess of China’s aerospace industry.
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
China's homegrown C919 plane begins regular Shanghai-Hong Kong flights
cgtn.com
