China's C919 jetliner goes into commercial operation

The C919 is China's first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards, and owns independent intellectual property rights. - Xinhua

SHANGHAI, May 28 (Bernama-Xinhua): C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, kicked off its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on Sunday, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market, reported Xinhua.

The flight, operated by China Eastern Airlines, took off as MU9191 at 10:32 am from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with 128 passengers on board.

The plane, with the registration number B-919A, is the first C919 jetliner delivered worldwide.

It is scheduled to land at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The C919 is China's first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards, and owns independent intellectual property rights.

The C919 project was launched in 2007. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), the first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015.

In 2017, the plane accomplished its maiden flight.

"It's a coming-of-age ceremony of the new aircraft, and C919 will get better if it stands the test of the market," said Zhang Xiaoguang, director of the marketing and sales department of COMAC. - Bernama-XInhua