China’s C919 passenger jet completes first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing
- Inaugural passenger flight is a milestone in China’s bid to challenge the Boeing-Airbus duopoly
- Symbolic MU9191 China Eastern flight also flags off a regular Shanghai-Chengdu service from Monday
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China’s C919 passenger jet completes maiden commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing
China’s first domestically developed narrow-body passenger jet – the C919 – completed its first commercial flight on Sunday, a milestone in the country’s bid to challenge the Boeing-Airbus duopoly in aircraft production.
Bearing the symbolic number MU9191, the flight operated by China Eastern Airlines and carrying more than 130 passengers left Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport at around 10.30am – about 10 minutes ahead of schedule.
The flight was welcomed with a water salute as it landed at Beijing Capital Airport at 12.30pm, according to a live feed from state broadcaster CCTV.
The two-hour commercial flight comes after 14 years of development, and as China is seeking to reduce dependence on foreign technologies amid a bitter rivalry with the US-led West.
I had to be here to witness everything, so I signed up for today’s flight in February and got the opportunity to take the return flight
A 14-year-old student in Beijing told CCTV he was “thrilled” to be taking the return flight to Shanghai at around 2.50pm.