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Xinyi Wu

Arriving at his gate at Beijing Capital International Airport for a routine business trip to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday, Howard Deng was unaware he was about to take part in a Chinese aviation milestone.
Air China flight 723 marked the first international service featuring the domestically produced C919 narrowbody jet from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), central to Beijing’s ambition to challenge the global duopoly of Boeing and Airbus.
As one of 111 passengers, Deng received a commemorative panda plush toy before departure. Touchdown at Chinggis Khaan International Airport came one hour and 41 minutes later, when the aircraft was greeted on the tarmac by a water-cannon salute.
“The flight was very smooth,” said Deng. “It felt basically no different from a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320.”
For Deng – who preferred not to share other biographical details – it was his first time aboard the C919. He noted that the cabin layout, legroom and lavatory size were similar to other aircraft that he had flown on.
There is no real difference in passenger experience compared to mainstream models
Howard Deng, passenger
Though he ended up on the flight by chance, Deng found the cabin noticeably busier than usual. Some travellers had specifically made a booking for the inaugural service, armed with cameras to document the trip, he said.
Passengers walked down a red carpet on arrival, welcomed by attendants in traditional Mongolian clothing offering cheese samples and an ethnic dance performance.
“There is no real difference in passenger experience compared to mainstream models, and I hope the C919 will be rolled out on more routes to more destinations,” Deng said.
The C919 will also be operated on the return trip, Air China flight 724. The airline had previously flown the two daily routes using a Boeing 737 Max 8.


Comac has built a budding domestic market for the aircraft. Since its first commercial flight in May 2023, the C919 is now operated by China’s three largest airlines – state-owned Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – across 58 routes connecting 26 cities, according to Xinhua.
Further international expansion, however, likely remains limited by regulatory and supply chain constraints, leaving the aircraft some distance from directly challenging Airbus and Boeing.
“Without EASA [European Union Aviation Safety Agency] or FAA [the US’ Federal Aviation Administration] certification, the C919 cannot be operated by Western airlines or global aircraft leasing firms,” said independent aviation analyst Li Hanming.
“Furthermore, Comac’s low production volume cannot match Airbus or Boeing’s monthly output,” Li said, adding that the aircraft was still reliant on foreign components.
Comac delivered just 15 C919s to customers in 2025, well short of the target of 75 set out at the start of the year. The South China Morning Post reported in January that it aimed to produce 28 or more units this year – a goal that, if met, would still represent just a fraction of the numbers produced by the company’s Western rivals.


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Comac jet’s flight to Mongolian capital on par with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, says passenger who hopes to see more C919 destinations


Comac jet’s flight to Mongolian capital on par with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, says passenger who hopes to see more C919 destinations.


‘Very smooth’: passenger shares experience on C919’s first commercial international flight

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Comac jet’s flight to Mongolian capital on par with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, says passenger who hopes to see more C919 destinations

Comac jet’s flight to Mongolian capital on par with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, says passenger who hopes to see more C919 destinations