China's homegrown jetliner C919 operates as regular Shanghai-HK commercial flights

China Eastern Airlines began operations of China's first homegrown passenger plane, C919, as regular round-trip flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong today.

The jet completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong at around 10.45 am on New Year's Day, and the return flight bound for Shanghai also departed at 12.50 pm.

China Eastern Airlines has set up designated counters to celebrate the inaugural flight this morning, while aviation enthusiasts were spotted taking photos of the aircraft.

A passenger surnamed Kwan expressed excitement about the trip on C919, especially since the jet is domestically produced.

"I didn't book this flight intentionally and learned about the inaugural flight afterwards," said another passenger surnamed Lee. "I'm happy to witness the country's aviation development and believe this is a new milestone." 

Hong Kong is the ninth city served by China Eastern Airlines' C919 fleet on regular commercial routes, and the airliner said it has placed orders for 105 more C919 jets. 

The C919 is China's first self-developed trunk jetliner and has conducted its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing in May 2023.

China launched the C919 project in 2007. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), the first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan Mei-bo said the inaugural commercial flight of the C919 between Hong Kong and Shanghai has a "very important historic significance" for the city and noted that Hong Kong is the first city beyond other Mainland cities to have such kind of commercial flight. 

"We hope that through this commercial flight, we can bring this historic innovation breakthrough in the Mainland's production of civil aviation aircraft to our Hong Kong citizens, as well as to the international visitors coming to Hong Kong." 

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