The first passenger aircraft produced by China, the C919 jet, which has a cruising speed of 834 km/h, took off on the morning of May 28, marking an achievement after 14 years of development.
On May 28, China conducted the inaugural commercial flight of the C919 narrow-body jet, creating a new milestone in its efforts to break the monopoly of Boeing and Airbus in global aircraft manufacturing. The flight, operated by Eastern Airlines as flight MU9191, departed from Shanghai to Beijing at 10:45 AM and landed at the capital’s airport at 1:10 PM on the same day, serving the busiest domestic route in the country.
The C919 is a twin-engine narrow-body jet powered by CFM International LEAP-1C engines. The aircraft can carry between 158 to 192 passengers and has a range of 4,075 to 5,555 km, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). This 164-seat aircraft features a two-class design with 8 business class seats and 156 economy class seats. The middle seat in the three-seat configuration in the economy cabin is 1.5 cm wider than the two adjacent seats, enhancing comfort for passengers.
The aircraft is equipped with 20 12-inch (30.4 cm) screens capable of displaying 1080p resolution movies. The C919 also has a filtering system, passenger-focused lighting, and low noise levels. It is expected to enter full commercial operation in the spring of 2023, with its first route between Shanghai and Beijing.
The C919 is a twin-engine narrow-body jet powered by CFM International LEAP-1C engines.
The C919, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), aims to compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320. It received certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in September last year after more than 14 years of development. This passenger aircraft was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in December of the same year. The C919 has completed a total of 100 hours of test flights, with commercial operations expected to begin in the first half of 2023.
The Chinese government plans for the C919 to capture 10% of the domestic market share by 2025. COMAC reports that it has received over 1,200 orders for the C919. According to China Eastern Airlines, the C919 will primarily operate in Shanghai.
