Air China's C919 has successfully completed its maiden flight in commercial operation, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese aviation industry.

The first C919 aircraft operated by Air China took off on Tuesday from Beijing Capital International Airport and landed at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, officially commencing the airline's operations with this domestically developed narrow-body jetliner.

Designed and manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the C919 represents a major achievement for the nation's aviation sector, showcasing China's growing capabilities in aircraft production.

Equipped with a higher maximum takeoff weight and enhanced engine performance compared to standard models, the C919 is well-suited for long-haul flights. This capability boosts its marketability and positions it as a competitive option in the global aviation market.

Since the start of commercial operations in late May 2023, the C919 has flown over ten thousand hours and conducted more than three thousand seven hundred commercial flights.

A significant milestone was reached on September first, when the number of transported passengers exceeded five hundred thousand.

The first large passenger aircraft, the C919, was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in December 2022. Since then, the airline has expanded its C919 fleet to seven aircraft and operates five regular routes connecting Shanghai with Chengdu, Beijing, Xi'an, and Guangzhou.

On August twenty-eighth, Air China and China Southern Airlines received their first C919 aircraft in Shanghai, marking an important moment as the country's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft enters a new phase of multi-operator service.