Pakistan’s ambassador congratulates China on the C919’s first flight.

BEIJING (APP) – Moin ul Haque, the ambassador of Pakistan to China, congratulated China on the C919’s successful maiden flight as the nation’s first big passenger aircraft.

China’s self-developed C919 large passenger aircraft completed its first commercial flight between Shanghai and Beijing on Sunday, marking a significant development in the country’s aviation sector, which seeks to compete with major international companies like Boeing.

The ambassador tweeted, “In fact, this is a significant milestone for the Chinese aviation sector and for the global commercial aircraft industry.”

The C919 aircraft, produced by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is the country’s first large jet airliner and a significant demonstration of its capacity for self-innovation in the high-end manufacturing sector. According to Chinese experts, the aircraft’s strong market performance will increase customer and order confidence.

The C919’s first flight left Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 10:32 in the morning and arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at 12:31 in the afternoon. Upon arrival, the C919 was honoured with a unique water-salute ceremony.

China Eastern Airlines flew the highly awaited MU9191 flight, which took around 130 people from Shanghai to Beijing.

On the C919, a new generation of locally designed and made cabin chairs are used in both business and economy class. Eight of them are business class seats with an all-aluminum alloy frame construction, cradle design, and adjustable 120° backrests. More over one metre separates the front and back seats.

The centre seat in the triple economy class seat is 1.5 cm broader than the two end seats, providing passengers with extra comfort. The C919 cabin is 2.25 metres wide.

The C919 project began in 2007, and its first test flight was completed in 2017. It received the Type Certificate on September 29, 2022, from China’s Civil Aviation Administration, which oversees the nation’s aviation industry.

The C919 is intended to have the same level of specifications as the well-liked Airbus 320 and Boeing 737, with 158 to 168 passengers and a flying range of 4,075 to 5,555 km.

The first C919 aircraft will be flown by China Eastern Airlines between Shanghai and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China, before operating on more routes.