In August 2024, Air China and China Southern Airlines took delivery of their first C919 aircraft at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) final assembly centre in Shanghai’s Pudong district. This event signalled the beginning of a new phase of multi-user operations for the country’s first domestically produced large passenger aircraft.
The inaugural C919 was delivered to another Chinese airline, China Eastern Airlines, on 9 December 2022. Since its commercial operations began on 28 May last year, the C919 has maintained a safe operation for 15 consecutive months. The C919 fleet now comprises seven aircraft that have completed over 3,600 commercial flights, totalling more than 10,000 flight hours and transporting over 500,000 passengers.
This impressive performance of the China-developed large passenger aircraft exemplifies the steady progress made by the country’s advanced manufacturing industry.
In the first half of this year, Air China and China Southern Airlines announced orders for 100 C919 aircraft from COMAC. The integration of the C919 into these two airlines’ fleets signifies a transition from the initial “zero-to-one” breakthrough of the first delivery to a “one-to-many” phase of rapid adoption. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the large-scale commercial operation of domestically produced large aircraft.
It has been reported that Air China has chosen an extended-range version of the C919, configured with 158 seats across two classes: eight in business and 150 in economy. China Southern Airlines has opted for the standard-range model, featuring a three-class layout with 164 seats, including eight in business, 18 in premium economy, and 138 in economy.
Both aircraft boast custom-designed cabin layouts, offering tailored seating arrangements and comprehensive in-seat power solutions, highlighting a commitment to enhancing passenger comfort while maintaining operational versatility.
Compared to the basic model, the extended-range version has a higher maximum takeoff weight of 78.9 tonnes and an engine thrust of 30,000 pounds, enabling longer flights. It has a full payload range of 2,000 nautical miles—an increase of 700 nautical miles compared to the basic model—and a maximum range of five hours, extending 1.7 hours. These enhancements allow it to better meet market demand.
In addition, the development of the C919 plateau variant is progressing steadily. This variant features a shortened fuselage and high-altitude modifications to accommodate the transportation requirements of high-altitude regions.
In addition to orders from the three major airlines, which total over 300 aircraft, Hainan Airlines’ subsidiaries, Suparna Airlines and Urumqi Air, have also placed orders for a total of 60 C919 aircraft. Suparna Airlines announced that it will receive its first C919 aircraft in the fourth quarter of this year, becoming the world’s first private airline to operate this model.
Shortly after a public address, Air China’s first C919 flight landed smoothly at Beijing Capital International Airport. The aircraft demonstrated stability and quietness throughout the flight, and its spacious, bright cabin was equipped with Wi-Fi for the duration of the journey.
The aircraft featured improved fixed headrests, enhanced armrests, multiple storage pockets, and illuminated seat numbers. Passengers, settled into these seats, could enjoy a sense of home-like comfort and convenience, despite being miles above the ground.
“Our domestically produced C919 is an excellent model, and I am proud of it. I am also proud to be a pilot of the C919,” said the captain of the Air China C919 flight.
Hu Zhenjiang, deputy administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, stated that the C919 has entered a new stage, progressing from research and development to production, delivery, mass production, and fleet operation with multiple users.
Meanwhile, the C919 is also in a “fast lane” in the overseas market. COMAC first applied for certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2019. Following the C919’s first commercial flight in May 2023 and a year of domestic flight missions, the application process has accelerated. In July this year, the European Union regulatory agency provided positive feedback after conducting an inspection of the C919 aircraft in Shanghai.
He Dongfeng, Board Chairman of COMAC, stated that as the C919 continues to expand its operations and demonstrate its effectiveness, it will be delivered to more customers, operate on more routes, cover more regions, and serve more passengers. This will inject new vitality into China’s and even the world’s civil aviation industry.
