COMAC Delivers Second C919 Aircraft to China Eastern Airlines for Upcoming Service

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) reached another milestone as it handed over the second C919 aircraft to China Eastern Airlines. The aircraft, now registered as B-919C, was delivered on July 16, 2023, and made its way from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).

Prior to this delivery, COMAC conducted rigorous flight tests with the aircraft over the past few weeks. According to flightradar24.com records, the airframe completed at least five take-offs and landings at PVG in July 2023, and four in June 2023. The maiden flight of this specific aircraft took place on May 8, 2023, as reported by ch-aviation.com.

A statement from COMAC highlighted the close cooperation between China Eastern Airlines’ pick-up team and the manufacturer’s delivery team to ensure the completion of all necessary inspections, ground tests, delivery test flights, bureau inspections, and document handovers.

The C919 is expected to commence commercial service “in the near future,” according to COMAC. Notably, the first C919 was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in December 2022 as B-919A, but it only entered commercial service in May 2023 after a two-month hiatus from March to May 2023.

The initial aircraft has been serving the route between SHA and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), operating up to two daily flights since its introduction in service on May 28, 2023.

Looking ahead, COMAC has plans to deliver a total of four C919s in 2023, including the recently delivered B-919C, based on China Eastern Airlines’ 2022 annual report. The airline has five orders for the C919 type in total. Exciting times lie ahead as China continues to expand its aviation fleet and strengthen its position in the global aviation market.