After years of delays, the first Chinese-made passenger plane has finally taken to the skies on its maiden commercial flight, marking a significant step toward China's technological reliance.
Sunday, May 28, marked the first flight of the single-aisle C919 from Shanghai to Beijing after more than a decade of planning and an estimated $72 billion in assistance from the Chinese capital city.
According to CNN, a brand-new China Eastern Airlines C919 narrow-body jet took off from Shanghai at 10:32 AM local time as flight MU9191. When it arrived at 12:31 PM local time at Beijing Capital International Airport, passengers were greeted with a water salute.
Visions for Tech Independence
Chinese President Xi Jinping's hopes for technological independence for his nation in the face of rising trade tensions with the US have been given a boost by the success of this aircraft. Even if it takes a long time to develop, the Chinese passenger jet market may one day compete with Boeing and Airbus.
"The successful development of the C919 indicates that China has the ability to independently develop large passenger aircraft," Xinhua, the official news agency, reported.
COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), a state-backed aerospace leader, created the C919 plane, and the national carrier China Eastern flew the first commercial flight.
The Shanghai government reported 1,035 orders for the aircraft from 32 customers by the end of last year in their 2022 Science and Technology Progress Report.
There has been rising anticipation for the aircraft in recent months, even though development on the project began in 2008, and the initial target date for the first flight was 2014. The plane recently got regulatory permission in China and continues to move closer to commercial operation.
The C919 development team was honored by President Xi at a banquet in Beijing's Great Hall of the People in October 2022. Xi described the crew as "the backbone" and "heroes" of the nation.
Xi noted at the time that Chinese airliners flying in the skies symbolized the nation's will, hope, and people's aspirations. He said that domestic manufacturing advancements would help fulfill the Chinese optimism of national rejuvenation.
Competition With Boeing and Airbus
In the enormous aviation industry in China as well as in certain emerging nations, analysts predict that COMAC will begin to erode the market share held by Boeing and Airbus. However, the C919 has not yet been cleared by regulators in the US or Europe, Financial Times reported.
Experts have also noted that the plane must rely on Western manufacturers for certain parts. That increases the prospect of the aviation sector being entangled in the increasing restrictions on technology exports from the US to China, which have already impacted China's chipmakers.
