China's first domestically developed commercial aircraft, the C919 jetliner, has entered a new phase of service as China Eastern Airlines on Wednesday launched daily flights between Shanghai and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).
The C919 flight, MU721, took off from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 08:21, carrying 157 passengers to Hong Kong, where it arrived at 10:44, marking the start of regular services on this key route.
China Eastern Airlines, which has become the first airline to operate the C919 on commercial flights to Hong Kong, intends to maintain a daily schedule of round-trip flights with the jetliner.
Meanwhile, Shanghai immigration authorities have introduced a tailored clearance procedure, designed to streamline the inspection and clearance process for passengers traveling on the C919 flights.
"We've established a special lane for passengers flying on the C919. Also, we've dispatched experienced staff to strengthen on-site policy consultations and service guidance, and utilized fast lanes to divert passenger flows, ensuring a smoother clearance process," said Dong Jianguo, head of the border inspection division under the Hongqiao Border Inspection Station.
"I'm very excited to fly on our homegrown C919 on New Year's Day. The whole clearance process was very fast. I truly feel that our country is becoming stronger and stronger," said Huang, a passenger traveling to Hong Kong.
With the inaugural commercial flight between Shanghai and Hong Kong, the C919 jetliner has marked a significant milestone by expanding its reach beyond the Chinese mainland.
"I think first of all, this C919 flight between Shanghai and Hong Kong provides a sense of stability and reliability. It conveys confidence to the market and public. There's profound significance here. The Shanghai to Hong Kong flight is an important business route. With the C919 flying regularly now, this will enhance the recognition and acceptance by domestic and foreign airlines," said Qiao Shanxun, director at the Low-altitude Economic Development Research Center of the Henan Industry and Trade Vocational College.
Hong Kong is the ninth region to welcome China Eastern's C919 fleet.
Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, the C919 is China's first self-developed jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards. As of the end of 2024, COMAC had delivered a total of 16 C919 aircraft to three Chinese operators.
As the first airline to purchase the C919 airliner, China Eastern has now ordered 105 additional aircraft and will soon have the largest C919 fleet in the world.
In addition, China Southern Airlines has five regular routes using the C919, linking cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu and Haikou, while Air China handles four routes between the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and more.
The aircraft has carried out more than 1 million passenger trips since it was put into commercial operation in May 2023.
The company is also setting its eyes on the global market, with an office opened in Singapore this year. So far, it has received 1,400 orders globally.
China's C919 jetliner marks milestone with first commercial flight to Hong Kong
