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China’s home-grown passenger jet C919 celebrates first anniversary of maiden flight
Explainer | China’s C919 passenger jet marks first anniversary of commercial flights: 13 key moments from year 1
- China’s C919 home-grown, narrowbody passenger jet completed its first commercial flight between Shanghai and Beijing on May 28, 2023
- Over the last year, China’s rival for Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320 has made its international debut at the Singapore Airshow and received more domestic orders
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The C919 – China’s home-grown, narrowbody passenger jet – is designed to carry between 158 and 192 passengers and compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320.
It is built by the Shanghai-based state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac).
The C919 completed its first commercial flight at the end of May 2023 after 15 years of development.
1. Maiden commercial flight (May 2023)
Bearing the symbolic number MU9191, the China Eastern Airlines craft carried over 130 passengers between the two cities in around two hours.
2. Second C919 delivered
Comac delivered a second C919 jet to China Eastern Airlines in Shanghai.
02:34
Why it took China’s home-grown C919 plane 15 years to start flying passengers
3. C919 to come in different sizes (September 2023)
4. China Eastern Airlines signs deal to buy 100 C919s
China Eastern Airlines said it signed a contract with Comac to buy 100 more C919 passenger planes, in addition to the five it ordered in 2021.
The airline said five were to be delivered in 2024, while 10 would be delivered annually in the following three years, and 15 would follow each year from 2028 to 2030. Annual deliveries are expected to reach 20 in 2031, it added.
5. First trip outside mainland China (December 2023)
01:15
A closer look at China’s C919 jet Victoria Harbour flyover
6. Third C919 delivered (December 2023)
Comac delivered its third C919 aircraft to China Eastern Airlines for operation on a route between Chengdu and Shanghai.
7. Deal signed for high-altitude variant (December 2023)
They also agreed to jointly establish a national research centre.
Plateau-suited jets are shorter and carry more oxygen cylinders to ensure the aircraft can maintain a continuous supply of oxygen in the event of a depressurisation, while the engines also have more thrust to support sustained flight at higher altitudes where the air is thinner.
They are also equipped with more accurate satellite communication systems to suit the complex terrain.
01:54
A look inside China’s home-grown civilian passenger jets, the ARJ21 and C919
8. China seeks European approval (January 2024)
The C919 has only been certified by the Chinese regulator.
9. C919 flies China’s busiest route (January 2024)
The regular service was expected to be available for two weeks.
10. C919 makes international debut (February 2024)
Two C919s took part in the 2024 edition of the Singapore Airshow, its first-ever international display.
11. C919 eyes Southeast Asia (February and March 2024)
02:01
China’s C919: first home-grown airliner makes international debut
12. Air China agrees to buy 100 C919 (April 2024)
The airline said it had negotiated a “rather large price discount” off the listed total of US$10.8 billion for the order.
13. C919 passes ‘deep level’ post-flight safety tests (May 2024)
A crew of more than 60 checked the aircraft – referred to as B-919A by China Eastern Airlines – and tested its engines, landing gear and all equipment in the cabin.
