The C919, the first Chinese-designed airliner, makes its maiden commercial flight
Beijing hopes that this aircraft will be able to compete with the most popular foreign aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320.
A successful premiere. The first Chinese-designed airliner, the C919, made its maiden commercial flight on Sunday, marking a turning point for the Chinese air transport sector. Beijing hopes that this aircraft will be able to compete with the most popular foreign aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320. "In the future, most passengers will be able to choose to travel on large, domestically-designed aircraft," described state broadcaster CCTV.
China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191 took off from Shanghai's Hongqiao airport on Sunday morning, according to CCTV, which said 130 passengers were on board. It landed "smoothly" at Beijing international airport around 40 minutes ahead of schedule at around 12.30pm local time (6.30am in France), according to CCTV. The flight "was extremely smooth, comfortable and memorable. I think I'll remember it for a long time", a passenger told the Chinese channel.
"Theme meal" for passengers
Before take-off, state media showed dozens of passengers gathered at Shanghai airport to admire the sleek white aircraft. All passengers received red boarding passes and enjoyed a sumptuous "themed meal" on board to celebrate the event, CCTV reported.
China, which is seeking to become self-sufficient in the technology sector, has invested heavily in the production of this first Chinese-designed airliner. The aircraft is built by state-owned Comac, but many parts come from other countries.
The C919 will be used from Monday on China Eastern Airlines' regular routes between Shanghai and Chengdu (south), CCTV reported. The first model of this aircraft, which can carry 164 passengers, was officially delivered to the Chinese airline in December 2022.
Airbus and Boeing want their share of the market
Zhang Yujin, deputy general manager of Comac, told the state-backed media outlet The Paper in January that the company had booked more than 1,200 orders for its aircraft. The state-owned manufacturer planned to increase its annual production capacity to 150 models within five years, Zhang Yujin said at the time.
Asia, and China in particular, are priority targets for Europe's Airbus and America's Boeing, as they seek to capitalise on the growing demand for flights from a sizeable middle class. In April, Airbus announced that it would double its production capacity in China and signed an agreement to build a second A320 assembly line in Tianjin (north-east China). The first assembly site in Tianjin opened in 2008 and produces four A320s a month. Airbus hopes to increase this rate to six per month by the end of 2023.
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