Chinese-made aircraft C919 marks two years of commercial operations, exceeds 2 million passengers

[Beijingwalker]

Chinese-made aircraft C919 marks two years of commercial operations, exceeds 2 million passengers
By Dimsumdaily Hong Kong -8:32PM Thu May 29, 2025

29th May 2025 – (Beijing) The Chinese-built aircraft C919 celebrated its two-year milestone of commercial operation on Wednesday, with a total of 18 deliveries to major airlines including China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Air China. The aircraft has successfully carried over 2 million passengers.

Headquartered in Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines was the first global customer for the C919. To date, the airline has accumulated over 28,000 flight hours and transported more than 1.57 million passengers. In recent times, China Eastern Airlines has expanded its C919 services by inaugurating several new routes. Notably, on Sunday, the 18th, a new route connecting Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen was launched, followed by another route linking Shanghai Hongqiao to Xiamen on the 25th. These new routes signify the commencement of commercial C919 operations at the airports of Shenzhen and Xiamen for the first time. With the addition of these two new routes, the C919 now operates on a total of 14 routes, connecting 12 cities.

The production capacity of the C919 continues to increase steadily. During a supplier conference in Xi’an, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) unveiled a five-year production plan for the C919 spanning from 2025 to 2029. As per the disclosed plan, the production capacity for 2025 has been revised from the original target of 50 aircraft to 75 aircraft. Subsequent years show an increase in production capacity, with figures reaching 100 aircraft in 2026, 150 aircraft in both 2027 and 2028, and a goal of 200 aircraft by 2029.

https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/chinese-made-aircraft-c919-marks-two-years-of-commercial-operations-exceeds-2-million-passengers/#google_vignette

 

[Beijingwalker]

C919 carries over 2m passengers in two years of operation
Good answer to safety, reliability of the aircraft: expert

Published: May 28, 2025 10:48 PM

Passengers pose for a photo in front of a C919 aircraft before their flight from Shanghai to Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 28, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of China Eastern Airlines

China's domestically produced C919 aircraft, a rival designed to compete with the best-selling narrow-body models of dominant plane manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, marked its second anniversary of operation on Wednesday.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, 18 C919 aircraft have been delivered to China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines, serving 24 routes across 16 cities and carrying more than 2 million passengers to date.

A Chinese expert said a good answer has been given in terms of the safety and reliability of the aircraft brought by the smooth operation, and increasing production capacity is needed for further development.

As of May 27, China Eastern Airlines' C919 fleet had logged more than 28,000 safe flight hours, conducted more than 11,400 commercial flights, and transported more than 1.57 million passenger trips, the carrier told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The C919 has demonstrated a strong safety performance and shows steady improvement in metrics like daily utilization, proving its comprehensive operational reliability, the carrier said.

The C919 is a large civilian aircraft developed in accordance with international civilian aviation regulations and with independent intellectual property rights, and it is regarded as a model to enhance China's competitiveness in the global aviation market.

On December 9, 2022, China Eastern Airlines received the world's first C919. On May 28, 2023, the airline operated flight MU9191 from Shanghai to Beijing, completing the model's first commercial passenger flight.

The latest news came on Sunday, as China Eastern Airlines announced a direct flight between Shanghai and Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province.

"Through training and flying, we've deepened our understanding of this aircraft. The C919 features innovative designs in systems, flight controls and human-machine interaction," according to Shang Feng, head of China Eastern Airlines' C919 flight department and captain of its inaugural commercial flight.

The aircraft has delivered a good answer in terms of safety and reliability since it was put into commercial operation two years ago, Lin Zhijie, an independent market watcher, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Domestically made large aircraft have provided a new option for airlines around the world, especially in the current situation, where the global aviation supply chain continues to be tight, Lin noted, adding that it is necessary to further improve the operational capabilities of the C919, especially the daily utilization rate.

On September 10 last year, Air China operated the maiden commercial flight of its first C919 aircraft, becoming the second airline in China to use the plane after China Eastern Airlines, a further move to accelerate the commercial operation of the C919.

On September 19 last year, a C919 operated by China Southern Airlines took off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, marking the Guangzhou-based airline's maiden C919 commercial flight.

Lin said that it is urgent to increase the production capacity of the plane, given that its maker - Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) - delivered 18 aircraft in the past two years.

"There is still a lot of room for production capacity, compared with the same models," Lin added.

Regarding production capacity, Zhang Yujin, a vice-general manager of COMAC, said at the beginning of this year that production of the aircraft will surely speed up to seize market share, according to news portal stcn.com on May 15.

Zhang also said that the annual production capacity of the C919 is planned to reach 150 aircraft in the next five years.

To further expand the plane's overseas footprint, COMAC has opened an office in Singapore, and COMAC vows to participate more deeply in the cooperation and development of the global aviation industry and promote innovation and progress in the industry, according to the official website of COMAC on October 28, 2024.

Reuters reported in April that Europe's aviation regulator needs between three and six years to certify COMAC's C919 single-aisle commercial jet.

C919 carries over 2m passengers in two years of operation - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[Hendarto]

The West will kneecap C919. Why does it take them so long to finalize he testing of CJ 1000?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/business/economy/jet-engine-chip-software-exports-to-china.html

U.S. Pauses Exports of Jet Engine and Chip Technology to China​

President Trump has stopped some critical products and technologies made only in the United States from flowing to China, flexing the government’s power over global supply chains.

Listen to this article · 5:25 min Learn more

A model of the Chinese-made COMAC C919 passenger plane in Shanghai last year.Credit...Hector Retamal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The Trump administration has suspended some sales to China of critical U.S. technologies, including those related to jet engines, semiconductors and certain chemicals.

The move is a response to China’s recent restrictions on exports of critical minerals to the United States, a decision by Beijing that has threatened to cripple U.S. company supply chains, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The new limits are pushing the world’s largest economies a step closer toward supply chain warfare, as Washington and Beijing try to flex their power over essential economic components in an attempt to gain the upper hand in an intensifying trade conflict.

The standoff could have significant implications for companies that depend on foreign technologies, including makers of airplanes, robots, cars and semiconductors.

 

[Aziqbal]

well the production is really ramping up

from 30 units to 50 units

there is 16-18 in commercial operation and 27 more to be added this year

with over 1,000 orders seems like COMAC will have plenty of work

 

[gambit]

The West will kneecap C919. Why does it take them so long to finalize he testing of CJ 1000?

There is nothing preventing Canada Air from buying Chinese airliners.

 

[Hendarto]

China should take a page from the Russian 100% Russian source components

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[Watandar]

There is nothing preventing Canada Air from buying Chinese airliners.

Of course there is. Canada Air will be denied the use of US airspace and routes for Chinese planes. Lackeys in Europe and South America will likely follow suit. America cannot tolerate Chinese cars , you think they will tolerate Chinese planes ?

 

[Bengal71]

Great news but need to go fully indigenous.

 

[gambit]

Of course there is. Canada Air will be denied the use of US airspace and routes for Chinese planes. Lackeys in Europe and South America will likely follow suit. America cannot tolerate Chinese cars , you think they will tolerate Chinese planes ?

There are safety concerns if you want to fly in US airspace. That is not just US but every country. So, if the C919 do not meet US air safety standards, and we pretty much set global aviation standards, then the C919 will not be allowed to land in US airports. On the other hand, Canada, just like China, can fly the C919 in Canadian airspace. The US have no jurisdiction there. Get it?

 

[That_Guy]

There are safety concerns if you want to fly in US airspace. That is not just US but every country. So, if the C919 do not meet US air safety standards, and we pretty much set global aviation standards, then the C919 will not be allowed to land in US airports. On the other hand, Canada, just like China, can fly the C919 in Canadian airspace. The US have no jurisdiction there. Get it?

To be fair, a lot of this is political, rather than safety.

The US is already pissed off that AirBus has gained a lot of share in the global market due to Boeing's incompetence, and they're not about to risk losing more share to China by giving them a safety pass.

Its in the USA's interest to continue repeating the "China can't produce safe and efficient products" mantra to the world...

...and its not just jets, it's cars too.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

Hopefully will see some positive news on the development of C929 and C939.

 

[Fatman17]

No export orders yet

 

[That_Guy]

No export orders yet

Here's hoping that changes.

The global market desperately needs a new competitor.

 

[Fatman17]

Here's hoping that changes.

The global market desperately needs a new competitor.

Big Risk: availability of engines

 

[Watandar]

Here's hoping that changes.

The global market desperately needs a new competitor.

Embraer of Brazil has been most successful airplane maker since Airbus. But they seem to stay away from large planes.

Russians have built modern airliners but politics and poor after-market support means they remain restricted to Russia.