China’s C919 completes first international commercial flight, challenging Boeing and Airbus

China’s homegrown C919 passenger jet completed its first international commercial flight on Wednesday, marking a symbolic milestone in Beijing’s efforts to challenge the long-standing dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the global aviation market.

The narrow-body aircraft, produced by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is positioned as a potential rival to Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320. However, the C919 has yet to secure certification from US or European aviation regulators, limiting its access to major international markets.

The C919, operated by Air China, departed Beijing Capital International Airport at 3:17 p.m. local time and landed in Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar at 4:58 p.m., according to public flight-tracking data.

The new international route is seen as an important step for Beijing, which hopes the domestically developed aircraft will reduce China’s dependence on foreign aviation technology and help COMAC establish a presence in overseas markets.

Passenger Hu Yuan, who checked in for the flight in Beijing, told AFP that he felt “a sense of pride” flying internationally on a Chinese-made aircraft.

“I hope our domestic planes continue to improve in terms of comfort and overall passenger experience — even outperforming Boeing and Airbus,” the 40-year-old passenger said.

Although the C919 is assembled in China, the aircraft relies on components sourced from several foreign countries, including the United States.

According to Xinhua, the Air China service will connect Beijing and Ulaanbaatar with one round-trip flight every day.

The C919 entered commercial service in May 2023, when it operated its first passenger flight between Shanghai and Beijing. It has since been deployed extensively on domestic routes and services connecting mainland China with Hong Kong.

COMAC has also sought to showcase the aircraft internationally, displaying the C919 at the Singapore Airshow in 2024 and 2026 and at the Dubai Airshow in 2025.

The company has already made inroads into overseas markets with its smaller C909 regional jet, which can carry between 78 and 97 passengers.

The C919’s first international commercial service represents a significant step in China’s ambition to build a globally competitive commercial aviation industry, although regulatory approvals and competition from established Western manufacturers remain major hurdles.