China's C919 jet makes first commercial flight

China's homegrown C919 large passenger plane successfully completed its first commercial flight on May 28, marking a new milestone in the development of China's civil aviation industry.

The C919 jetliner, operated by China Eastern Airlines, flew from Shanghai to Beijing with some 130 passengers on board. The flight took about two hours and was greeted with a water salute upon landing at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The C919 is China's first jetliner that was developed in accordance with international airworthiness standards, and has independent intellectual property rights.

The plane made its maiden flight in 2017 following the launch of the C919 project in 2007. After years of rigorous testing, the plane obtained its certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, or CAAC, in September 2022.

China Eastern Airlines, which is the world's first customer of the C919, received its first plane in December 2022.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, where the flight took off from, cooperated closely with China Eastern Airlines to ensure the smooth completion of the C919's first commercial passenger flight.

According to the requirements of the CAAC and the Shanghai Airport Authority, the airport conducted comprehensive assessments on various aspects such as airfield facilities, ground service arrangements, and emergency medical support.

It also formulated a detailed security plan and carried out tests on aircraft parking guidance, boarding operations, and refueling operations.