Commercial debut of the C919: Milestones of China’s first homegrown jetliner

The first C919 passenger plane delivered to China Eastern Airlines made its first commercial flight on Sunday from Shanghai to Beijing.

C919 is China’s first domestically built large passenger airliner, manufactured by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

C919 was officially launched in 2009, and is steadily progressing towards its goal of commercial service.

With its maiden flight on May 5, 2017, which lasted approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes, the first C919, number 101, showcased its capabilities and started a new chapter in China’s aviation industry.

Since then, the C919 has undergone an extensive testing program, with notable achievements along the way. In December 2017, COMAC announced the successful completion of the first long-haul flight of the second C919, which lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes. This marked an important step towards validating operational range and performance.

In November 2020, the C919 achieved a significant milestone when it was awarded a Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This authorization certifies that the C919 meets the airworthiness requirements for flight testing.

COMAC announced the completion of the first static strength test of the C919 airframe in December 2020. This test, where loads were applied to the structure to assess its safety, demonstrated the robustness of the aircraft’s design.

In March 2021, China Eastern signed a contract for five C919 aircraft, the first commercial deal for the aircraft.

The Shanghai-based carrier took delivery of its first C919, number B-919A, in December 2022 and began 100 hours of empty aircraft validation test flights.

With the launch of the C919 in the market, the aircraft has not only been able to reshape the global commercial aviation landscape, but also can symbolize China’s progress in the aviation industry.

As of January 2023, the number of orders for the C919 has reached 1,200, according to COMAC vice president Zhang Yujin.