China's C919 Jet Takes Flight: Air China and China Southern Join the Party

Two more Chinese airlines have joined China Eastern in taking delivery of Chinese-made COMAC C919 passenger jets.

Air China and China Southern Airlines have both received the aeroplanes at a handover ceremony at COMAC’s factory in Pudong, in Shanghai.

The dual delivery event marks the first planes to be dispatched to the two carriers from a mega 200 jet order for C919s worth $20.7 billion that was announced in April.

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Each single-aisle passenger formation jet is equipped to carry 192 passengers, along with cabin and flight crews.

Both are expected to fly the aircraft on regional trips within China, and will likely receive second jets before the end of 2024.

COMAC said 1,000 units have been ordered in total, as it attempts to break into the international duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in the passenger jet market.

The narrowbody C919 and the medium-range ARJ21 model were showcased in Singapore earlier this year, before embarking on a tour of Southeast Asia.

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The third member of the COMAC family is a widebody jet, the C929, which is currently under development in Pudong.

”The baseline version of the C929 accommodates 280 seats with a range of 12,000 kilometres, effectively meeting the global demand for international and regional air passenger transport,” according to the manufacturer.

Homegrown aviation is one of several development areas seen by the government in Beijing as the key to China’s continued economic and international development. It is expected the Chinese aviation market will double in size over the next 20 years and more than 8,000 planes will be needed to keep up with passenger demand.

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China Eastern Airlines celebrates the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s 500,000th passenger on flight MU9188, marking a historic milestone for the C919.

China’s homegrown commercial jet, the COMAC C919, has celebrated a major achievement, surpassing 500,000 passengers since its commercial launch just over 15 months ago, underscoring its growing role in the nation’s aviation sector.

Onboard a China Eastern Airlines flight MU9188, traveling from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), passenger Lu became the 500,000th person to fly on the C919. To mark the occasion, China Eastern Airlines gifted Mr. Lu a model of their first C919 aircraft, complete with signatures from the captain and chief flight attendant.

Since its commercial debut on May 28, 2023, the C919 has made significant strides, logging over 10,000 flight hours and completing upwards of 3,700 commercial flights. China Eastern Airlines, the first to operate the C919, now has seven of these aircraft in service across five domestic routes, linking major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Guangzhou.

China Eastern has steadily expanded its C919 fleet and network. During the busy summer travel season of July and August 2024, the airline’s C919 aircraft completed 1,145 commercial flights, transporting nearly 160,000 passengers with an impressive average load factor of 86%.

China Eastern Airlines has so far been the exclusive operator of the C919, but the aircraft is now set to see wider use across China’s aviation industry. In a notable advancement, China Southern Airlines and Air China both took delivery of their first C919 aircraft last Wednesday. This milestone makes them the second and third airlines, after China Eastern, to incorporate the C919 into their fleets, signaling a growing acceptance of the aircraft among major Chinese state-owned carriers.

Both China Southern Airlines and Air China have been actively preparing for the introduction of the C919 into their fleets. China Southern’s initial group of eight captains completed their C919 type rating training at COMAC on July 10, followed by Air China’s first cohort of 10 pilots, who finished their training on July 29. These preparations underscore the airlines’ readiness to swiftly incorporate the C919 into their operations.

The C919 program is a crucial milestone in China’s efforts to establish a competitive presence in the global commercial aircraft market. As more airlines begin to integrate the C919 into their fleets, the aircraft is anticipated to play an increasingly vital role in domestic air travel and could eventually make its mark on international routes.

Despite the aircraft’s significant progress, the C919 still faces obstacles in achieving widespread international acceptance and obtaining certifications from aviation authorities outside of China. Nonetheless, the achievement of carrying 500,000 passengers and its upcoming deployment by other major Chinese airlines highlight the C919’s expanding influence within China’s domestic aviation market. These developments signal the aircraft’s strengthening foothold, even as it continues to navigate challenges on the global stage.

As the C919 continues to build its operational track record and attract more users, industry experts will be paying close attention to its performance in reliability, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction in the years ahead. The success of this aircraft has the potential to significantly alter the dynamics of the commercial aviation industry, not just in China but on a global scale.

Tags: Airline News, china, china eastern airlines, Commercial Aircraft Corporation, Travel News

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A significant milestone in Chinese aviation history was achieved on Wednesday as two of China’s leading airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines, welcomed their first COMAC C919 aircraft.

This dual delivery marks a pivotal moment for the country’s aerospace industry, as all three major Chinese carriers now operate domestically built passenger jets.

The dual delivery ceremony at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) Final Assembly and Manufacturing Center in Shanghai was followed by a triumphant arrival of the C919s at their respective home bases.

Air China’s aircraft landed at Beijing International Airport, while China Southern’s touched down at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Both were greeted with traditional water cannon salutes.

This event follows an agreement signed between China Southern and COMAC in April to purchase 100 C919 aircraft. The deliveries are scheduled to continue in batches through 2031, solidifying the C919’s position as a cornerstone of China’s civil aviation fleet.

Currently, seven C919 aircraft are in service with China Eastern Airlines. This number is expected to increase to nine in the coming days. The successful entry into service of the C919 represents a significant step forward for China’s domestic aviation industry.

This demonstrates the country’s growing aircraft design, manufacturing, and technology capabilities.

As more C919 aircraft are delivered and enter commercial service, the domestic market is expected to witness a surge in demand for air travel, leading to increased connectivity and economic growth.

The success of the C919 program in the domestic market will also open the door to potential exports to other countries in the foreseeable future. However, a challenge for COMAC is developing a global support network. The lessons of the Sukhoi SSJ taught operators far from the OEM’s home base how crucial this is. Both CityJet and InterJet suffered from a lack of product support.

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