COMAC C919 will make first revenue flight outside mainland China in June

China Eastern Airlines, the sole operator of the COMAC C919 airliner, has announced the first international flight of the home-grown aircraft.

According to the carrier, the 164-seat jet will make a charter flight between Shanghai, in mainland China, and Hong Kong, on June 1, carrying students.

The announcement took place during the delivery of the 6th C919 to CEA on May 28, one year after the aircraft debuted in revenue service.

“China Eastern has achieved breakthroughs in the commercial operation of the C919 aircraft, with the C919 fleet reaching five jets. We are now in the process of achieving further breakthroughs, expanding the fleet size from six to more than 100,” said Wang Zhiqing, president of China Eastern Airlines.

“We will further improve the operational efficiency and market competitiveness of C919 aircraft so that the C919 can fly more steadily, further, wider and better,” Wang added.

China Eastern Airlines 6th C919 (Social media)

10 C919 by the end of the year

According to China Eastern, the five jets in operation had completed 2,181 flights, accumulating 6,090 flight hours on three routes – Shanghai-Chengdu, Shanghai-Beijing and Shanghai-Xi’an – carrying more than 276,000 passengers last year.

The airline also revealed that the occupancy rate has been growing steadily and is currently at 80%.

China Eastern is expected to have 10 COMAC aircraft by the end of the year. China’s civil aviation market is expected to receive 9,284 new passenger jets, including 6,288 single-aisle jets.

By 2041, China is expected to become the world’s largest air travel market, according to estimates.