Homegrown C919 jet taking skies by storm

China's domestically developed narrowbody C919 jet has entered a new phase of scaled commercial operations, analysts said, after the aircraft more than doubled its monthly flight volume and achieved utilization rates approaching those of Western rivals nine years after its maiden flight.

Operational data compiled by Chinese civil aviation analytics platform Flight Master showed the C919 had completed 3,190 flights in April, representing a 117.9 percent year-on-year increase, while some aircraft logged as many as 10.7 flight hours a day, approaching utilization levels comparable to mature narrowbody jets such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families.

The aircraft marked the ninth anniversary of its first flight on Tuesday. As of April 30, the C919 had completed more than 42,000 commercial passenger flights since entering service.

The jet, manufactured by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, made its first test flight on May 5, 2017. The first C919 was delivered in December 2022 and officially entered commercial service in May 2023, with a flight from Shanghai to Beijing.

The route network has also expanded steadily. Since its introduction, the C919 has linked 29 airports, with 28 on the Chinese mainland and one in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Fleet expansion is reinforcing that growth. By the end of April, the three largest domestic airlines — China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines — operated 15, 11 and 10 C919 aircraft, respectively, helping accelerate the jet's entry into mainstream commercial service.

"More than 42,000 commercial flights and triple-digit monthly growth are highly symbolic milestones. The C919 has essentially moved from trial operations into a new stage of scaled and routine commercial operations," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.

Operational metrics indicate improving efficiency. Since the start of 2026, 88.5 percent of C919 flights have operated at least four sectors per day, said Flight Master.

Zhu said the operational data showed the jet's safety, reliability and economic performance were increasingly being recognized by both airlines and passengers.

"The utilization rate is already close to that of mainstream international narrow-body aircraft, suggesting that maintenance support, crew scheduling and ground service systems are becoming more mature," he added.

However, Zhu said challenges remain, including supply-chain vulnerabilities, shortages of experienced maintenance personnel and continued reliance on imported components for some core systems.

Industry analysts said the aircraft's production pace is expected to accelerate in the coming years. Dan Taylor, head of consulting at United Kingdom-based aviation consultancy IBA Group, said the program was entering a gradual ramp-up phase as supply chains stabilize.

IBA forecasts that deliveries of the C919 could reach around 28 aircraft in 2026, rising further as manufacturing capacity expands, although international certification and supply chain constraints remain key challenges.

By the end of 2025, COMAC had delivered 32 C919 aircraft, according to Flight Master.

The aircraft's profile is also rising internationally. At the Singapore Airshow 2026 in February, the C919 conducted demonstration flights and appeared alongside other COMAC aircraft, as the company sought to build recognition in Southeast Asia.

Looking ahead, Zhu said the C919 was likely to evolve from a supplementary aircraft into one of the main workhorses of China's domestic narrow-body fleet over the next three to five years, particularly on high-density routes of 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers.

He added that while the aircraft was unlikely to displace Airbus and Boeing globally in the near term, it could gradually help break the long-standing duopoly in China's single-aisle market, and expand into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn