The first C919 passenger jet delivered to China Eastern Airlines made its first commercial flight on Sunday, from Shanghai to Beijing.

The C919 is China's first homegrown large passenger aircraft, manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

Officially launched in 2009, the C919 program has been steadily progressing toward its goal of commercial service.

With its maiden flight on May 5, 2017, lasting approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes, the first C919 aircraft, numbered 101, showcased its capabilities and initiated a new chapter in China's aviation industry.

Since then, the C919 has undergone an extensive testing program, with notable milestones along the way. In December 2017, COMAC announced the successful completion of the second C919 aircraft's first long-haul flight, lasting 2 hours and 23 minutes. This marked a significant step toward validating its operational range and performance.

In November 2020, the C919 achieved a crucial milestone when it received its Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This authorization attested to the C919 meeting airworthiness requirements for flight testing.

COMAC announced the completion of the first static strength test for the C919's airframe in December 2020. This test, where loads were applied to the structure to assess its integrity, demonstrated the robustness of the aircraft's design.

In March 2021, China Eastern signed a contract for five C919s, the first commercial deal for the plane.

The Shanghai-headquartered carrier received its first C919, numbered B-919A, in December 2022 and began 100 hours of empty aircraft verification test flights.

With the market operation of the C919 kicking off, the aircraft could not only reshape the global commercial aviation landscape but also symbolize China's progress in the aerospace industry.

As of January 2023, the number of orders for the C919 jetliner had reached 1,200, according to COMAC Vice President Zhang Yujin.