China's C919 jet to appear at Singapore Airshow 2024 for first time

China's self-developed passenger jet C919 will perform flight demonstrations at Singapore Airshow 2024, which will last from February 20 to 25.

It will be the first time the plane has taken part in Asia's most influential aerospace and defense event.

This year's airshow, held at the Changi Exhibition Centre, will feature a total of eight aerial displays including one flypast from six air forces and two commercial companies, according to a statement released by the host on Friday.

The aerial performances will include aerobatic teams from India, Australia, Indonesia and South Korea. The United States Air Force's B-52 bomber will also make a flypast at the airshow, and the Singapore Air Force will send its F-15 fighter jet and Apache attack helicopter. 

Leck Chet Lam, managing director of Experia, the organizer of the airshow, said that "flying performances are always a key highlight at Singapore Airshow."

"As the public were either given limited or no access in the previous two editions due to safety measures during a pandemic, we anticipate strong interest in the upcoming flying performances. We are especially thrilled to welcome familiar favorites; and also flying teams and aircraft that are flying at Singapore Airshow for the first time," said the managing director.

Commercial plane enthusiasts can look forward to a display from Airbus' A350-1000 as well as the C919.

Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), the first C919 aircraft made its inaugural commercial flight between east China's Shanghai Municipality and the capital city Beijing on May 28, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the China Eastern Airlines' C919 fleet has accumulated more than 2,200 safe flight hours, completed 655 commercial flight trips, and transported nearly 82,000 passengers.