Luftfahrt: Chinas C919 absolviert ersten internationalen Linienflug

China's domestic aircraft manufacturer Comac successfully operated the C919 passenger jet on its first international scheduled flight on Wednesday. The aircraft, operated by Air China, flew from Beijing to Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, as reported by state news agency Xinhua. The route is planned to have daily outbound and return flights.

Since May 2023, the C919 has been used in regular passenger service, primarily within China and between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. This is now the first regular route to another country for the C919. According to the manufacturer, Comac has so far operated the C919 on 57 routes to 25 cities, transporting over 7.5 million passengers.

The aircraft is operated by Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern airlines. Major competitors to Airbus and Boeing, the C919 is roughly the size of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. China is one of the world's largest aviation markets and thus crucial for the western aircraft manufacturers. So far, Comac has been active mainly in China, but it aims to sell its aircraft in other countries as well.

However, the C919 has not yet received certification from European or American aviation authorities, which hampers sales in many countries.