China’s C919 Jets Enter Mass Delivery Phase with Major Airline Orders

The recent delivery of two China-built narrow-body passenger jets, the C919, has been widely celebrated as another milestone for China's civil aviation market.

On the night of August 28, two C919s adorned in Air China and China Southern Airlines liveries were unveiled at the final assembly and manufacturing center of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Pudong, Shanghai. These deliveries mark the eighth and ninth C919 aircraft handed over to Chinese airlines.

\"This time, the deliveries to multiple users mean COMAC starts mass delivery to different customers,\" said civil aviation expert Lin Zhijie.

Lin told CGTN that the fact the aircraft will be operated by different airlines under various conditions marks a \"very important stage for the C919's commercial operation.\"

Since receiving certification from Chinese civil aviation authorities in 2022, the C919 has been making significant strides. Seven aircraft have already been delivered to its first global operator, China Eastern Airlines, with the maiden commercial operation beginning in May 2023.

China Eastern operates five commercial routes using the C919, connecting major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Xi'an. On September 1, the jetliner welcomed its 500,000th passenger on a flight from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

To date, China Eastern's C919 fleet has logged over 10,000 flight hours and completed more than 3,700 commercial flights, showcasing the aircraft's reliability and the growing confidence in China's homegrown aviation technology.

Reference(s):

What's next for China's C919 as orders pile up?

cgtn.com