China’s C919 jet makes first international commercial flight

Beijing's state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, witnessed a significant milestone on Wednesday as its domestically produced C919 jet completed its first international commercial flight. The narrow-body aircraft, which competes with Boeing's 737 and Airbus's A320, was operated by Air China and flew from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

China hopes the C919 will reduce its reliance on foreign technology, potentially challenging Boeing and Airbus's decades-long aerospace dominance. However, the jet has yet to receive approval from American or European regulators. Passenger Hu Yuan expressed pride in flying an international route on a domestically produced plane, with hopes that China's domestic planes will surpass Boeing and Airbus in comfort and overall passenger experience.

The C919, while made in China, incorporates components from various countries, including the United States. Air China plans to connect Beijing and Ulaanbaatar with one round-trip flight per day, as reported by Xinhua news agency in July. The C919 made its first commercial flight in May 2023, and has since been used for both domestic and international routes.

COMAC has also showcased the C919 at airshows in Singapore, 2024, 2026, and Dubai in 2025, and it has already ventured into foreign markets with its smaller C909 jets, accommodating 78 to 97 passengers.