BEIJING: China Eastern Airlines, one of China’s major carriers, welcomed its second domestically developed C919 aircraft on Sunday. The aircraft, manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), made its official flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, where it joined the airline’s fleet.
This delivery marks the second of the five C919 aircraft that China Eastern Airlines has purchased from COMAC, all featuring the same cabin layout. The newly acquired aircraft will operate alongside the first C919 aircraft on the Shanghai to Chengdu route initially and is expected to expand its service to additional routes in the future.
C919 Aircraft Completes 87 Commercial Flights
Since its maiden flight, the first C919 aircraft has successfully completed 87 commercial flights, accumulating approximately 250 flight hours and catering to 11,095 passengers. This performance highlights the aircraft’s reliability and capability to meet the demands of commercial operations.
The C919 aircraft is a key part of China’s efforts to establish a competitive presence in the global aviation market. It is a narrow-body aircraft designed for medium-range flights, aiming to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing. With the delivery of the second C919 to China Eastern Airlines, the country takes another step forward in its ambitious plans for developing a thriving domestic aviation industry.
As COMAC continues to enhance the C919’s performance and address any necessary improvements, the aircraft is expected to contribute to China’s aspirations of achieving self-sufficiency in the aviation sector.
