SHANGHAI- COMAC C919 is set to make its first commercial flight outside Mainland China, one year after entering service with its launch customer, China Eastern Airlines (MU).
On June 1, China Eastern will operate the narrowbody on a commercial charter flight from Hong Kong (HKG) to Shanghai (PVG). This flight will carry Hong Kong college students participating in an exchange program with their Shanghai counterparts.
China Eastern COMAC C919 Flight
The C919 is gradually gaining international recognition. Earlier this year, in February, it made its debut at the biennial Singapore Airshow and subsequently toured Southeast Asia, reported FlightGlobal.
This milestone coincides with China Eastern receiving its sixth C919 (registered B-919G), marking the first of 100 C919s the airline ordered in September 2023.
China Eastern states that the delivery “marks the comprehensive acceleration of the large-scale and large-fleet commercial operation of the domestically produced C919.”
The airline plans to take delivery of four more C919s this year, expanding its fleet to 10 by year-end.
Current Routes
Currently, China Eastern deploys its C919s on domestic trunk routes, including Shanghai-Chengdu, Shanghai-Beijing, and Shanghai-Xian. Since the aircraft entered service, China Eastern has operated over 2,100 C919 flights, maintaining load factors of around 80%.
Looking ahead, China Eastern plans to deploy the C919 primarily in its main base markets and key business and tourism routes, aiming to expand its market influence and build a strong user reputation.
In late April, Air China (CA) and China Southern Airlines (CZ), members of China’s ‘Big Three,’ each ordered 100 C919s, contributing to Comac’s growing backlog.
Other Chinese operators, such as Tibet Airlines, Suparna Airlines, and Urumqi Air, have also placed orders.
According to Cirium fleets data, Comac has nearly 1,000 firm orders for the C919, with an additional 700 covered by tentative agreements.
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