China's homegrown large passenger aircraft C919 began operation on the fifth regular commercial route on Monday, linking Beijing with Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, according to its operator China Eastern Airlines (CEA).

Flight MU2113, carrying 139 passengers, took off from the Xi'an Xianyang International Airport at 4 p.m. for Beijing, with the return flight departing from Beijing at 8:00 p.m. on the same day. The flight duration is approximately 2.5 hours.

Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), C919 is a two-engine narrow-body airliner with seating for 158 to 192 passengers and a flight range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometers. 

It adopts cutting-edge aerodynamic design, advanced propulsion systems and materials, featuring lower carbon emissions and higher fuel efficiency. The aircraft also made international debut at Singapore Airshow in February.

At present, CEA is the sole carrier operating the C919, with the 7th C919 jetliner joining its fleet last month. This came one year after the first C919 commercial flight was made last May. With its self-developed trunk jetliner, China aims to secure a share of the global civil aviation market currently dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

Over the past year of commercial operation, the C919 aircraft has been operating on four routes from Shanghai to Chengdu, Beijing, Xi'an and Guangzhou. As of August 3, the C919 had completed 3,133 flights, serving nearly 420,000 passengers.

Read more: China's C919 aircraft to inaugurate new route on Friday