May 28, 2023
Beijing, May 28 (QNA) – The first Chinese-made C919 airliner took off on its maiden commercial flight today. This represents a paradigm shift for China as it seeks to compete with the West in this field.
Footage broadcast by the official CCTV television channel showed Eastern Airlines China Flight MU9191 departing from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.
The plane, carrying more than 130 passengers, was destined for Beijing International Airport, but footage broadcast by state media showed dozens of passengers gathering at Shanghai airport, preparing to board the narrow white plane. It was shown that they were there.
China is investing heavily to locally produce this aircraft in pursuit of self-sufficiency in key technologies, as it wants to compete with popular Western models such as the Boeing 737 MAX F Airbus A320 C919. The aircraft is scheduled to fly between: Shanghai and Chengdu are cities in the southwest.
The C919 is the first large jet aircraft developed domestically according to international airworthiness standards and has independent intellectual property rights.
COMAC expects annual production of this type of aircraft to reach 150 within five years, and although the aircraft is assembled in China, it relies heavily on Western parts.
The C919 project started in 2007 and was developed by China Civil Aircraft Co., Ltd. COMAC, so the first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in 2015 and completed its first test flight in 2017. (QNA)
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economy, international
