China's C919 Jet Takes Off Globally
Beijing to Ulaanbaatar in 2 hours: China's answer to Boeing and Airbus makes historic first international flight with 174 passengers
China's homegrown C919 passenger jet has made its first scheduled international commercial flight from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, marking a milestone in China's push to develop an alternative to Boeing and Airbus. The Comac C919 took off from Beijing Capital International Airport at 3pm and landed in Ulaanbaatar just over two hours later.
The C919 is made by the Chinese state-owned aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and is similar in size to the Boeing 737. The C919 has been flying on domestic routes operated by Chinese airlines since 2023, but this flight marks the first time the narrow-body jet is used on a commercial international route.
The Beijing-Ulaanbaatar service is set to operate daily, according to Air China. The C919 can carry up to 174 passengers and is a similar single-aisle narrow-body set up to Boeing’s 737 MAX and Airbus’s A320neo.
Despite this milestone, China still has a long way to go in establishing itself as a major player in the global aviation market. COMAC delivered 15 C919 aircraft last year, well below the 75 it had targeted. Additionally, China ordered 200 Boeing planes, as well as engines and spare parts, in May, demonstrating the country's continued reliance on U.S.-made commercial jets.
The C919 is China’s first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards and registered with independent intellectual property rights. However, it still relies on foreign components and has not received certification from major U.S. or European aviation regulators, limiting its ability to win customers in many overseas markets.
## What's Next The success of the C919's first international flight is a significant step for China's aviation industry, but it remains to be seen whether the country can establish itself as a major player in the global market. With the Beijing-Ulaanbaatar service set to operate daily, COMAC will be looking to build on this momentum and increase its presence in the international market.
