Source Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror
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Air China flight CA723 takes off from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2026. (Photo by Tao Ran/Xinhua)
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — China’s homegrown C919 large passenger aircraft landed safely at the new Ulan Bator airport in Mongolia on Wednesday afternoon after departing from Beijing Capital International Airport, marking the completion of the aircraft’s first scheduled international commercial passenger flight.
China’s domestically developed C919 large passenger aircraft lands at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Mongolia, Aug. 12, 2026.(Xinhua/Bolortsetseg)
The C919 is China’s first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards and registered with independent intellectual property rights.
As of Aug. 10, the C919 had served 57 routes linking 25 cities and handled more than 7.5 million passenger trips, said the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., the jet developer.
The photos show you some milestone moments of the C919 jetliner.
This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2015 shows the C919, China’s first homemade large passenger aircraft, rolls off production line at a plant of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Pei Xin)
The C919 project was launched in 2007. The first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015.
The plane conducted a successful maiden flight in 2017.
In the following years, the C919 conducted several test flights in different locations to test its capabilities.
The C919 has gone through tests in various types of extreme natural environments including high temperature, high humidity, severe cold, gusts and freeze. Its safety, reliability, and environmental protection performance have been comprehensively assessed.
It obtained the type certificate in September 2022, which indicates that the jetliner’s design meets airworthiness standards and environmental requirements.
The plane received its production certificate on Nov. 29, 2022, meaning the model can enter mass production.
On Dec. 9, 2022, the first C919 aircraft was delivered to its first customer, China Eastern Airlines.
China’s homegrown large passenger plane C919 taxis on a runway after its maiden flight in Shanghai, east China, May 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)A C919 large passenger aircraft, coded B-001J, takes off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, east China, May 14, 2022. The first C919 large passenger aircraft to be delivered completed a successful maiden test flight on May 14, 2022, according to the COMAC. (Xinhua)A type certificate conferring ceremony for the C919 is held at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Tao)The first C919 large passenger aircraft is delivered to its first customer, China Eastern Airlines, in Shanghai, east China, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)This photo taken on May 28, 2023 shows a C919 aircraft getting ready for its first commercial flight in east China’s Shanghai. C919 completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28, 2023, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)A C919 aircraft is greeted with a water salute after landing at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, Dec. 12, 2023. (Xinhua)A child poses for photos with a C919 passenger aircraft at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 26, 2024. Flight MU9197, carrying 111 passengers, departed from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport for Chengdu Tianfu International Airport on Jan. 26, 2024. It was the first time for C919 to carry out flight missions during China’s Spring Festival travel rush period. (Xinhua)A C919 aircraft receives a ceremonial water salute upon its arrival at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport in Lhasa, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 19, 2024. China’s homegrown C919 jetliner completed a flight from southwest China’s Sichuan Province to the neighboring Xizang Autonomous Region on Sept. 19, 2024, marking the aircraft’s first landing in Xizang. (Xinhua)A C919 aircraft arrives at Macao International Airport in Macao, south China, Nov. 7, 2024. Air China’s B-919Y aircraft completed a flight to the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Nov. 7, 2024, marking the first visit of China’s homegrown C919 jetliner to Macao. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)A staff member displays a plane ticket of the C919 Flight MU721 in front of the plane in Shanghai, east China on Jan. 1, 2025. China Eastern Airlines started using China’s domestically-produced C919 jetliner for regular flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2025. (China Eastern Airlines/Handout via Xinhua)The flight CA1279 of Air China flies past the Baota Mountain in Yan’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, on June 24, 2026. Air China started using China’s domestically-produced C919 jetliner on a new route linking Beijing with Yan’an of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province on June 24, 2026. By far, Air China has opened a dozen of air routes from Beijing to old revolutionary base areas such as Jinggangshan, Zunyi and Yan’an. (Photo by Chen Xiao/Xinhua)Passengers pose for photos with specialized souvenirs during an activity marking the launch of the first international commercial route operated by C919 aircraft at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)Dancers perform during an activity marking the launch of the first international commercial route operated by C919 aircraft at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)This photo taken on Aug. 12, 2026 shows an activity marking the launch of the first international commercial route operated by C919 aircraft at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)A staff member helps a CA723 passenger check in at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2026.(Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)Crew members of Air China flight CA723 hold a coordination meeting before takeoff at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2026. (Photo by Tao Ran/Xinhua)Captain of Air China flight CA723 inspects before takeoff at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2026. (Photo by Tao Ran/Xinhua)This photo taken on Aug. 12. 2026 shows the homegrown C919 aircraft taking off from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xie Han)China’s homegrown C919 large passenger aircraft lands at the new Ulan Bator airport in Mongolia, Aug. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Bolortsetseg)Passengers are greeted by etiquette staff dressed in traditional Mongolian costumes as they step out of the cabin at the new Ulan Bator airport in Mongolia, Aug. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Bolortsetseg)Crew members of Air China pose for group photos at the new Ulan Bator airport in Mongolia, Aug. 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Bolortsetseg)
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance,
a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went
back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016,
working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
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