China's homegrown C919 plane begins regular Shanghai-Hong Kong flights

China Eastern Airlines on Wednesday started using China's domestically produced C919 jetliner for regular flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong, making the company the first airline to use the C919 for scheduled commercial flights to Hong Kong.

According to China Eastern Airlines, it has ordered 105 C919 aircraft, the largest C919 fleet in the world. Hong Kong is the ninth city served by the airline's C919 fleet on regular commercial routes.

The company plans to conduct daily round-trip flights following the launch of the regular route.

The C919 conducted its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing in May 2023, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market. The Shanghai-Beijing route by C919 has become regular since January this year.

The C919 is China's first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards and with independent intellectual property rights registered.

China launched the C919 project in 2007. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., the first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015.

(With input from Xinhua)