China’s first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, is now serving 10 major cities across the country as domestic airlines move swiftly to deploy the new aircraft.
The aircraft, seen as a symbol of China’s achievements in tech and advanced manufacturing, also hit a new milestone on Thursday, carrying a total of 1 million passengers since its maiden commercial flight in May 2023.
The rapid roll-out will be a key test for the C919 as it strives to prove itself a reliable alternative to Boeing and Airbus’ single-aisle models, with more frequent flights posing challenges from deployment to maintenance.
“More flights between more cities mean real tests for the jet, but it can also raise its profile,” said Li Hanming, an aviation consultant.
China Eastern Airlines was the first carrier to put the new aircraft into service.
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