Global Focus on C919 Airplane "Spreading Wings" (International Debate) China | Airplane | C919

On May 28th at 12:31, after a 1 hour and 59 minute flight, China Eastern Airlines Flight MU9191, operated by a C919 large passenger aircraft, landed smoothly at Beijing Capital International Airport, passing through the "Watergate", which symbolizes the highest etiquette of civil aviation.

Photo by Wei Meng

Recently, the world's first C919 aircraft delivered arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, officially entering the civil aviation market. The C919 is the first jet mainline passenger aircraft developed by China in accordance with internationally recognized airworthiness standards and with independent intellectual property rights. China's domestically produced large aircraft are spreading their wings, attracting global attention.

A "coming of age ceremony"

"China's domestically produced C919 aircraft has completed its long-awaited first commercial flight." According to a report on the website of the Wall Street Journal in the United States, on May 28th, China Eastern Airlines' MU9191 flight, operated by the C919, departed from Shanghai and arrived in Beijing about 40 minutes earlier than scheduled, passing through the "Watergate", which symbolizes the highest etiquette of civil aviation. Afterwards, the aircraft will undergo initial commercial operation on the route from Shanghai Hongqiao to Chengdu Tianfu.

The first commercial flight of C919 has attracted widespread attention from foreign media. What are the highlights of China's first self-developed jet trunk airliner? Foreign media are focusing on the details of the C919's debut.

The German news television channel website reported that passengers were warmly treated to celebrate the first commercial flight of the C919. The passengers on board shared the cake and waved the national flag while singing patriotic songs. After the plane successfully landed at the airport in Beijing, a brief celebration ceremony was held. A passenger said in an interview that the flight was "very smooth, comfortable, and unforgettable.". The first C919 will be delivered to China Eastern Airlines in 2022. It is reported that this model has the characteristics of low noise, low carbon emissions, and high fuel efficiency.

According to TASS, the standard range of the C919 aircraft is about 4075 kilometers, with a maximum range of 5500 kilometers and a flight altitude of up to 12000 meters. Over the next 5 years, COMAC plans to produce 150 C919 aircraft annually. At present, COMAC C919 has accumulated over 1200 orders.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, C919 is another Chinese made aircraft that has been put into commercial use by COMAC since its regional plane ARJ21 was put into commercial operation in 2016. C919 has obtained certification from relevant departments of the Chinese government and will mainly be sold in the domestic market in the future.

According to Zhang Xiaoguang, Director of the Marketing Committee of COMAC, the launch of the C919 into commercial operation is like a student entering society after graduation. This is a "coming of age gift" for a new aircraft model.

"The self-developed C919 passenger plane in China has officially entered commercial operation, which has excited Chinese netizens. According to a report by Yonhap News Agency," the first successful commercial flight of the C919 "has topped the hot search list on major social media platforms in China.". Many Chinese netizens have expressed that they can finally board domestically manufactured passenger planes and hope that more C919 will fly over their motherland.

Leapfrog progress

The C919 has successfully completed its first commercial flight and officially entered the civil aviation market, embarking on a new journey of market-oriented operation and industrial development. Many foreign media outlets have focused on the significant role of C919 in China's independent research and technological innovation process. "Milestones" is a keyword frequently used by foreign media.

According to the Financial Times website, the first domestically developed jet mainline passenger plane from China soared into the sky during its first commercial flight, marking a symbolic moment of China's technological independence. Previously, C919 underwent more than 10 years of research and development. The successful development of C919 marks China's ability to independently develop large passenger aircraft.

Singapore's Straits Times reported that China's self-developed C919 has been put into passenger service and completed its first commercial flight, marking a milestone in China's path to technological self-reliance.

Agence France Presse also stated that the first commercial flight of the C919 is a milestone event. China's first domestically produced jet airliner with enormous commercial potential will reduce its dependence on foreign technology.

According to a report by Seoul Economic Daily in South Korea, after 16 years, the C919 has finally been successfully put into commercial operation. Although there is a need to improve the level of localization in terms of engines and other aspects, the successful commercial flight of the C919 for the first time signifies a breakthrough in China's manufacturing of large trunk airliners. This is also a landmark event of China's commitment to achieving independent control and reducing dependence on the West in strategic industries such as aviation.

Aviation analyst Luke Bodel believes that although China has already developed its own aircraft, the C919 is China's first large aircraft developed from scratch, which is one of the symbols of China's transformation from a low value manufacturing industry to a global industrial and technological leader.

The French newspaper Tribune reported that China is committed to developing the aviation industry and hopes to become a major player in the global aviation industry. The C919 is China's first independently developed large passenger aircraft. It has completed the world's first commercial passenger flight of this model, becoming an important milestone in the development of China's aviation industry, marking a leapfrog progress in the aviation industry.

Bringing new changes

"The C919 will break Boeing and Airbus' monopoly on single channel jet mainline aircraft," reported the BBC. According to CNN, China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, the C919, has successfully made its first commercial flight, indicating that it will "directly compete with the world's two major aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing.".

The Financial Times believes that looking ahead to the long-term development of China's aircraft industry may shake the "duopoly" position of Boeing and Airbus.

Breaking monopolies is a major focus of attention in overseas media. As a rising star in the field of commercial aircraft, the C919 is expected to bring new changes to the global civil aviation market, sparking expectations from overseas media and industry insiders.

"The first commercial flight of the C919 means that Boeing and Airbus are facing challenges in the Chinese market, although the scale of this challenge is still small, it is iconic." The Wall Street Journal reported that in the next 20 years, China may need thousands of new single aisle passenger planes, and COMAC will need to quickly increase production to occupy a considerable market share domestically.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the Chinese market is huge, and the C919 can support subsequent operation and research and development by relying on domestic orders. Therefore, COMAC is expected to give priority to the development of the domestic commercial market, accumulate experience and brand reputation, and win the trust of more potential overseas users. Africa and Asia may be the main markets for the initial export of C919. For example, given the previous cooperation, Indonesia has a higher possibility of considering introducing C919 in the future. Nigeria has also expressed interest in purchasing C919.

According to a recent report by Boeing, the Chinese aviation market will become the world's largest single aviation market, with the number of Chinese aircraft passengers expected to more than double by 2041, and the number of new aircraft purchased by China accounting for one-fifth of the world's total, according to Seoul News in South Korea. With the continuous growth of demand for civil aviation aircraft in China, the market potential of C919 in the future is enormous.