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China's first-ever large homegrown airliner has finally made its inaugural flight — meet the Comac C919

China Eastern COMAC C919.
China Eastern Airlines flew the first COMAC C919 flight on Friday, flying from Shanghai to Beijing with about 130 passengers onboard.Xinhua/Ding Ting, COMAC
  • China's first homegrown mainline aircraft flew from Shanghai to Beijing on Sunday.

  • The narrowbody plane has had a long production due to technical issues and shipping delays.

  • China hopes the C919 will make it less reliant on foreign-made technology like Boeing and Airbus.

After 15 years of production, China's first homegrown mainline commercial jet flew for the first time on Sunday.

China's homegrown C919 passenger jet departs Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport for Beijing Capital International Airport during its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023 in Shanghai, China.
China's homegrown C919 passenger jet departs Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport for Beijing Capital International Airport during its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023 in Shanghai, China.Yin Liqin/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

The C919 is a narrowbody passenger plane made by state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac).

The China Eastern C919 getting a water salute for the inaugural.
The China Eastern C919 getting a water salute for the inaugural ion Beijing.Wang Yang/Xinhua, COMAC

Source: Insider

The flight was operated by China Eastern Airlines from Shanghai to Beijing carrying nearly 130 passengers, according to a COMAC press release.

People take photos as China's homegrown C919 passenger jet lands at Beijing Capital International Airport during its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023 in Beijing, China.
People take photos as China's homegrown C919 passenger jet lands at Beijing Capital International Airport during its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023 in Beijing, China.Han Haidan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Source: COMAC

The China Eastern plane is fit with eight business class seats and 156 economy seats, with the inflight interiors and entertainment system being custom-designed, per the planemaker.

Onboard the inaugural C919 flight.
Onboard the inaugural C919 flight.Xinhua/Ding Ting, COMAC

Source: COMAC

To celebrate the historic event, passengers were given red boarding passes and served a "themed" meal onboard, including a dessert that had the airline's logo.

A flight attendant distributes bottles of water to passengers during the first commercial flight of China's first domestically produced passenger jet C919 from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28, 2023.
A flight attendant distributes bottles of water to passengers during the first commercial flight of China's first domestically produced passenger jet C919 from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28, 2023.STR/AFP via Getty Images

Source: CCTV

In addition to the inaugural route, the carrier also plans to fly the 164-seater aircraft to cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xiamen, Reuters reported.

Passengers check in to first COMAC C919 flight.
Passengers check in to first COMAC C919 flight.Xinhua/Ding Ting, COMAC.

Source: Reuters

China Eastern has five C919s on order, with the other four scheduled to be delivered over the next two years, though the airline initially planned to receive them all in 2023.

A Comac C919 in the company livery.
Comac C919.Shi Yuge/VCG via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

The inaugural flight comes after the C919 shared the skies with rival western plane makers Airbus and Boeing during its public debut at China's Zhuhai Airshow in November.

Boeing 737 MAX 7 in Boeing livery. A Southwest 737 MAX 8, a Ryanair 737 MAX 8200, and an Alaska 737 MAX 9 sit behind.
Boeing MAX jets at Boeing's facility in Washington state.Taylor Rains/Insider

Source: Reuters

Due to the country's strict zero-COVID restrictions, the non-passenger flight had a smaller audience, representing the overall slow return of both China's domestic and international aviation markets, Reuters reported.

A display of the C919 on October 12 at an organised media tour ahead of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China. The exhibition was titled ""Forging Ahead in the New Era."
A display of the C919 on October 12 at an organised media tour ahead of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China. The exhibition was titled ""Forging Ahead in the New Era."Florence Lo/Reuters

Source: Reuters

"Zhuhai is of intense interest to China aviation spotters, and missing the show is a significant lost opportunity for those seeking to understand China's opaque commercial and defense aerospace sectors," Asia's managing editor of FlightGlobal, Greg Waldron, told Reuters.

China Southern Airlines A319neo delivery.
China Southern Airlines A319neo delivery.Airbus

Source: Reuters

Nevertheless, the jet garnered over 300 new orders at the air show for the plane — mostly from Chinese customers. In total, COMAC has secured more than 1,200 orders.

The C919 flying at the Zhuhai Air Show on Tuesday.
The C919 flying at the Zhuhai Air Show on Tuesday.China Daily via REUTERS

Source: Reuters

These include from Hainan Airlines...

Hainan Airlines
Hainan AirlinesTonyV3112/Shutterstock

Source: Reuters, Simple Flying, ComacBBC

...Sichuan Airlines...

Sichuan Airlines.
Sichuan Airlines.Sergei Bachlakov/Shutterstock

Source: Simple Flying

...China Express Airlines...

China Express Airlines.
China Express Airlines.Markus Mainka/Shutterstock

Source: Simple Flying

...Air China...

Air China.
Air China.Dmitry Rukhlenko/Shutterstock

Source: Simple Flying

...and non-Chinese entity GE Capital Aviation Services, now known as AerCap, which has ordered 10.

AerCap.
AerCap.AerCap

Source: Airline Geeks, AerCap

The AJR21, which is Comac's regional product, also got 30 orders at the show. The small twin-engine plane first entered commercial service in 2016 with Chengdu Airlines.

Chengdu Airlines AJR21.
The AJR21 is also operated by OTT Airlines, Air China, China Express Airlines, and China Southern Airways, among others.REUTERS/Aly Song

Source: Planespotters, Simple Flying

While the C919 program has officially launched commercial operations, which was initially slated for 2016, it has been a long road filled with myriad challenges.

Production of the C919.
Production of the C919.Reuters

Source: Aerotime Hub

The C919 program was launched in 2008, and production began in December 2011, with the first prototype rolling off the assembly line in November 2015.

The first C919 rolls off the assembly line in 2015.
The first C919 rolls off the assembly line in 2015.STR/AFP via Getty Images

Source: Simple Flying

The inaugural flight occurred over Shanghai in May 2017.

The C919's first flight in May 2017.
The C919's first flight in May 2017.China Daily via Reuters

Source: Simple Flying

However, years of technical difficulties and supply issues delayed the development.

Production of the C919.
Production of the C919.Reuters

Source: Nikkei Asia

Specifically, Comac was impacted by restrictions imposed by the Trump Administration in 2020 that blacklisted shipments of things like fight controls and jet engines. About 60% of the parts used to make the plane are supplied by American companies.

C919 cockpit on display in 2017.
C919 cockpit on display in 2017.Associated Press

Source: Nikkei Asia

Comac was forced to rely on special licenses from entities like General Electric and Honeywell to get the parts it needed for the jet, according to a report by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a think tank based in Washington, DC.

Production of the C919.
Production of the C919.Reuters

Source: Nikkei Asia

While the company has faced political and technical challenges, it also failed to secure the C919's local certification from China's aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), by the end of 2021.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Reuters

Source: Nikkei Asia

CAAC spokesperson Yang Zhenmei told Reuters in December 2021 that the company had not completed the number of required test flights. Specifically, the C919 had only flown 34 out of the necessary 276 flights.

First Comac C919 test flight.
First Comac C919 test flight.Reuters

Source: ReutersGlobal Times

Though, Zhenmei explained in January 2022 that the agency has imposed strict airworthiness standards for the jet, including over 40,000 days of manpower to review everything.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Reuters

Source: Global Times

But, after over a decade, the aircraft was finally certified at a ceremony in Beijing on September 29, Reuters reported.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.ALY SONG/AFP via Getty Images

Source: ReutersTwitter

While Comac mostly has orders from Chinese customers, Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson told Simple Flying that the jet is not totally out of consideration for the low-cost carrier, but the price will be key.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Reuters

Source: Simple Flying

"We would welcome a third person to break the duopoly between Boeing and Airbus," he said. "We would hope that they (Comac) will have a good aircraft, but that aircraft will have a lot of tried-and-tested Western components as well. And the question is, will that be reflected in the pricing of those aircraft or not?

Ryanair.
Stefano Garau/Shutterstock

Source: Simple Flying

Bloomberg reported the list price of the C919 is about $99 million — nearly double the $50 million that experts estimated.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Getty Images/Stringer

Source: Statista, Simple Flying, Bloomberg

That is close to the price of Boeing's 737 MAX 8 and Airbus' A320neo, which are about $122 million and $111 million, respectively, as of 2022.

Airbus A320neo
A Fly Arystan Airbus A320neoHerve Gousse/Airbus

Source: Statista, Simple Flying, Forbes

Comac intends the C919 aircraft to be a short and medium-haul workhorse to connect hubs to both large and small cities.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Reuters

Source: Comac

The plane has a range of 2,532 to 3,452 miles and can seat between 158 and 168 passengers, depending on the cabin configuration.

C919 cabin interior display.
C919 cabin interior display.Reuters

Source: Comac

According to cabin mockups, the plane can be fitted with an all-economy cabin...

Economy mockup on the C919 in 2014.
Economy mockup on the C919 in 2014.JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images

Source: Comac

…or in a multi-class configuration with economy, business, or another premium seat.

Person trying out the C919's business seat mcokup in 2012.
Person trying out the C919's business seat mockup in 2012.Reuters

Source: Comac

Currently, the C919 is powered by CFM LEAP-1C engines, which are being made in partnership with General Electric and France's Safran.

CFM LEAP engines.
CFM LEAP engines.PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty Images

Source: CNET

But, the C919's engine is a variant of the LEAP-1A seen on the A320 and 737 families, which could explain the jet's lower range, per Forbes.

Airbus A320neo
Airbus

Source: CNET, Forbes

However, China wants to eventually use its own engine on the plane to alleviate its reliance on foreign-made technology.

China-made CJ1000 engine.
China-made CJ1000 engine.Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

So, the country is developing the AECC CJ-1000A, a turbofan jet engine that it hopes will be complete by 2025.

China-made CJ1000 engines.
China-made CJ1000 engines.Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

But, the country doesn't want to just make its own engines, it wants to manufacture all of the C919's parts in-house.

Cockpit mockup of the C919.
Cockpit mockup of the C919.Reuters

Source: Department of Justice

To do this, China has been accused of launching a multi-year hacking operation to acquire the intellectual property of the foreign companies that supply parts for the jet, according to a Crowdstrike report published in 2019 and a Department of Justice indictment.

Employees working on the C919.
Employees working on the C919.HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

Source: Department of Justice

Between 2010 and 2015, the hackers successfully infiltrated entities like Honeywell, Safran, and General Electric, the report says.

Honeywell headquarters.
Honeywell headquarters.DAVID BREWSTER/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Source: Department of Justice

This may result in the C919 not being the same quality as Western competitors because many foreign companies were unwilling to supply their parts due to the allegations.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.ALY SONG/AFP via Getty Images

Source: Forbes

"The C919 is yesterday's technology available today," aviation consultant Michael Boyd told Forbes. "Domestically, the open question is how much damage the [Chinese government] will do to Chinese carriers by forcing them to fly these things."

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Reuters

Source: Forbes

Regardless if the C919 ever operates outside China, the country hopes the jet will help it become more technologically self-reliant and advance China's aircraft manufacturing industry.

Comac C919.
Comac C919.Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

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