A C919 aircraft with a registration number of B-919A took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and flew to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on December 9th, 2022, marking that the world's first C919 aircraft was delivered to its first customer, China Eastern Airlines (hereinafter referred to as CEA). The delivery and the upcoming route operation of the first C919 aircraft will provide more options to global airlines and customers, provide more opportunities to global suppliers and partners, inject new vitality to global commercial aircraft industry, and offer better service to global air travelers .
This is another major milestone in the development of China's commercial aircraft career, which means that for more than 30 years, the global civil aviation transportation market will usher in a latest and brand new single-aisle trunk liner. After generations of effort, the first time ever for China's civil aviation transportation market to have an indigenously-developed trunk jetliner, and the commercial aircraft career will enter a new journey of large-scale and serialized development, which has a great significance to promoting the cooperation and innovation of global aviation industry chain, accelerating the supply-side structural reform of China's civil aviation transportation market, and helping to build a new development pattern with mutual promotion of domestic and international double circulation.
The delivery ceremony was themed with "Flying together in the new era". Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) delivered a "commemorative key of the world's first C919 aircraft" to CEA and issued Aircraft Sales Certificate. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued Nationality Registration, Airworthiness Certificate (AC) and Radio Station License to CEA.
The C919 aircraft delivered to CEA at this time has a special painting and "ID number". The front section of the fuselage is printed with a Chinese seal logo and corresponding English words "THE WORLD'S FIRST C919". The registration number of the aircraft is B-919A, wherein "B" represents the Chinese nationality of the aircraft, "919" matches with the aircraft type, and "A" means the first, which highlights the extraordinary significance of the global new type and first aircraft. The 164-seater aircraft comes with a two-class cabin layout, consisting of business class and economy class, including 8 business class seats and 156 economy class seats. The cabin interior, passenger seats, airborne entertainment system and aircraft exterior painting are all custom-designed. Subsequently, after the completion of the supplementary operation certification by CAAC and the relevant preparations for flight, the aircraft will officially be join into route operation.
The C919 aircraft is a global new generation of an indigenously-developed single-aisle trunk liner developed by China in accordance with international airworthiness standards and owning independent intellectual property right. The aircraft has obtained Type Certificate (TC) from CAAC on September 29th, 2022, and Production Certificate (PC) from CAAC on November 29th, 2022. The aircraft has a layout of 158 to 192 seats, with a range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometers. It embodies the features of safety, economical efficiency, comfort and environmental friendliness; which can satisfy the different operating requirements of airlines. With advanced aerodynamic design, propulsion system and materials, the C919 aircraft has lower carbon emission and higher fuel efficiency. The co*ckpit is equipped with a new generation of integrated side rods, five 15.4-inch HD screens, and the advanced "quiet and dark" design can effectively reduce the pilot workload. The cabin has an aisle height of 2.25 m, a humanized design with the middle seat slightly wider than seats on both sides, multiple situational lighting modes, low noise level and healthy fresh air, which provides passengers a more comfortable flight experience.
As one of the three largest state-owned backbone airlines in China and the seventh largest airline in the world, CEA has a route network covering 1,062 destinations in 170 countries and regions around the world, and its volume of passenger traffic ranks among the top ten in the world. CEA has extensive experience in global operation and large fleet operation. CEA officially signed a purchase contract of five C919 aircraft with COMAC in March 2021, becoming the world's first customer of C919 aircraft. CEA has set up a C919 Flight Department, in addition, selected excellent pilots with rich experience, fine craftsmanship and fine style of work for C919 aircraft, aimed at the goals of "flying with safety, flying with aspiration, flying with brand awareness，flying with creating benefits", and devoted to the high-quality operation of C919 aircraft.
COMAC has always adhered to the safety concept of "life priority and safety first", the quality concept of "exquisite design, fine manufacture, sincere service and make perfection more perfect", and the customer concept of "customer-centric", taken market demand as the orientation, respected customer opinions, implemented customers' requirements, and striven to build C919 into a commercial aircraft that "airlines willing to purchase, pilots willing to fly, and passengers willing to experience". To ensure the smooth delivery of the first C919 aircraft, COMAC and CEA have set up a joint working group and developed a joint working plan to advance the progress of program hand in hand. COMAC would follow the industry practices and the requirements of CAAC on operation supporting system to provide customers with professional services and support, and continually improve the operation supporting system of C919 aircraft to provide guarantee for the safe and smooth operation of the aircraft.
