BEIJING: As Air China has finished test flights for its first C919 aircraft, the three major domestic airlines are at a promising stage for commercial operations of the home-made aircraft, Global Times reported.

The C919 has reportedly received positive feedback from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Market analysts suggest that this could help the aircraft gain a larger share of the European market and attract more international customers.

According to the Weibo account of state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China, Air China’s first C919 passenger aircraft made its first test flight on Friday and is scheduled to be delivered at the end of August.

Earlier, Air China unveiled its cabin layout, which has two classes providing 158 seats – eight in business class and 150 in economy. This is the loosest cabin layout known to the C919 passenger aircraft.

China Southern Airlines finished its first C919 test flight in Shanghai on August 3. In July, China Eastern Airlines, the world’s first opera
tor of the plane, received its seventh C919. Maiden commercial flights began in May 2023.

The successful test flight of Air China is a clear sign that the C919 is winning more confidence among airlines, and it is expected to speed up commercial operations of the aircraft, Qi Qi, a market insider, told the Global Times on Sunday.

As more C919s enter commercial service and add flight hours, it will inject more confidence and win more orders from users and potential customers, Qi added.

The C919 is a large civilian jet aircraft developed in accordance with international civilian aviation regulations and with independent intellectual property rights, and it is regarded as a model to grab a share of the global civilian aviation market dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

Before the C919’s entering the international market, it is necessary to obtain airworthiness certifications from the civilian aviation administration authorities of overseas countries.

Source: Emirates News Agency