The China-developed C919 large passenger aircraft prepares for its first international commercial flight at Beijing Capital International Airport on Wednesday. TAO RAN / FOR CHINA DAILY
Air China introduced China's domestically developed C919 large passenger aircraft on its daily Beijing-Ulan Bator route on Wednesday, marking the narrowbody jet's first international commercial flight.
Flight CA723 took off from Beijing Capital International Airport at around 3 pm and touched down in the Mongolian capital at 4:58 pm local time, according to Air China. The return flight, CA724, departed Ulan Bator at 7:04 pm local time, and arrived in Beijing at 8:49 pm, according to Umetrip, a Chinese aviation travel service platform.
The move takes the C919 beyond the domestic network, where it has accumulated most of its commercial experience since entering service in 2023. The aircraft's previous appearances overseas have been at air shows and for demonstration flights. In 2024, it toured Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia to test compatibility with airports, ground equipment and flight procedures, according to its manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China.
According to COMAC's official website, the C919 seats 158 to 192 passengers and has a range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometers. It received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in September 2022 and made its first commercial flight with launch customer China Eastern Airlines in May 2023.
