China’s first domestically produced passenger jet, the C919, completed its maiden commercial flight on Sunday. The country hopes that the jetliner will rival foreign models, such as the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. However, many of the aircraft’s parts are sourced from abroad. The successful launch marks a significant milestone in China’s efforts to compete with Western rivals in the air and reduce its reliance on foreign technology.
The C919, which has mass commercial potential, is the first homegrown jetliner of its kind in China. State broadcaster CCTV said that in the future, most passengers will be able to choose to travel by large, domestically produced aircraft. China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191 from Shanghai arrived smoothly in Beijing just after 12:30 pm, around 40 minutes ahead of schedule, according to CCTV.
The aircraft is manufactured by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), but many of its parts, including its engines, are sourced from overseas. The company has taken around 1,200 orders for the C919 and plans to increase annual production capacity to 150 models within five years.
From Monday, the C919 will operate on China Eastern’s regular route between Shanghai and the southwestern city of Chengdu. The successful launch is an important milestone for China’s aircraft industry, which has invested heavily in production of the homegrown jet as it seeks to become self-sufficient in key technologies. Airbus and Boeing are also targeting Asia and China in particular, looking to capitalise on growing demand for air travel from the country’s vast middle class.
