The C919 currently only operates domestic flights in Mainland China.
Comac’s C919 has operated its first international flight, with Air China deploying the narrowbody on flights to Ulaanbaatar.
On 12 August, the Air China C919 (registered B-919Y) operated flight CA723 from Beijing to the Mongolian capital.
Air China operates three flights a day between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar, typically with Boeing 737 Max 8s. Its schedules now indicate flight CA723 will be operated with C919s.
The Star Alliance operator hails the inaugural flight as a “significant milestone…in promoting the international operation of [homegrown] aircraft programmes”.
Air China is one of three operators of the C919, with the other two being China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. The aircraft programme – touted as China’s answer to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 – has only operated domestic flights since its service entry in 2023.
Air China has 12 C919s in its fleet, deploying them on flights to Mainland China points like Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu and Chongqing. Air China’s C919s also operate between Beijing and Hong Kong.
The latest news comes as Comac targets European certification for the C919, with media reports early this year suggesting that flight testing by European Union Aviation Safety Agency pilots is already under way.
In recent weeks, the programme hit another milestone with the first flight test of the high-altitude variant of the C919. The high-altitude variant, designated C919-600, seats about 140 passengers, compared to the baseline model’s standard layout of 164 seats.
The post Comac’s C919 completes first international flight first appeared on FlightGlobal.