Foreign Affairs

On board 130 passengers

Maiden flight for China's first airliner, from Shanghai to Beijing

China hopes the C919 can compete with more popular foreign planes such as the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320.

29/05/2023

The first China-designed airliner, the C919, completed its first commercial flight, a turning point for China's airline industry that has long sought to compete with its Western rivals. Beijing hopes the C919 can compete with more popular foreign planes such as the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320.

"In the future, most passengers will be able to choose to travel aboard large domestically designed aircraft," state television channel CCTV explained.

China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191 landed "smoothly" at Beijing International Airport about 40 minutes early, around 12:30 p.m. local time, according to CCTV. The flight "was extremely smooth, comfortable and memorable. I think I'll remember it for a long time," a passenger on board the plane told CCTV after landing.

The plane took off from Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport yesterday morning, according to the broadcaster's footage. There were 130 passengers on board.