Air China will begin deploying the domestically developed C919 aircraft on its daily Beijing Capital-Ulan Bator route starting August 12, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese-built aircraft’s expansion beyond the Chinese Mainland market.
According to Air China ‘s official App, flight CA723 will depart Beijing Capital International Airport at 3 pm and arrive in Ulan Bator, Mongolia at 5:15 pm. The return flight, CA724, will leave Ulan Bator at 6:30 pm and arrive in Beijing at 8:35 pm.
Air China currently operates one daily C919 flight on the Beijing Capital-Hong Kong regional route, and it has so far taken delivery of 12 C919 aircraft.
History of C919
The manufacturer of the C919 is the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) a Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai. Their headquarters is in Pudong, Shanghai.
The C919 is China’s first domestically developed jet trunkliner, built in accordance with internationally recognized airworthiness standards and featuring independent intellectual property rights. The basic model seats 158 to 192 passengers and has a range of ,000 nautical miles.
COMAC’s flagship C919 narrow-body passenger jet completed its maiden test flight on May 5, 2017, taking off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. It received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China on September 29, 2022.
The first aircraft delivered on December 9, 2022 to China Eastern Airlines which is the global launch customer and first operator of the C919. Subsequently, the aircraft successfully completed its first commercial passenger flight on May 28, 2023 from Shanghai to Beijing
As of the end of April 2026, the C919 had operated more than 42,000 commercial passenger flights.
The main types of aircraft manufactured by Comac include:
- C909 (Regional Jet): Formerly known as the ARJ21, this is Comac’s first domestically produced regional passenger jet. Designed for short-haul flights, it typically seats 78 to 90 passengers and competes directly with the Embraer E-Jet family.
- C929 (Wide-Body): Currently in development, this long-haul, wide-body jet will seat between 250 and 320 passengers.
Comac emerging as option for many Asia Pacific airlines
BBC reported at the Singapore Air Show that was held in February 2026 that IATA’s Willie Walsh said that Asia Pacific airlines could see double digit growth in 2026 if planes were available. “It’s incredibly frustrating for airlines. The wait between making an order and taking delivery is about seven years,” he said.
This is why Comac is emerging as another option for many Asia Pacific airlines. The company says it has delivered more than 200 C909 and C919 jets, with around a quarter of those planes being operated by airlines in Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. Brunei’s GallopAir has placed a large order for the firm’s aircraft, and Cambodia is also planning to buy around 20 planes.
As well as expanding in Asia Pacific, Comac is also pursuing European certification, with regulators conducting test flights on its C919. This would allow it to sell to European carriers. However, the road ahead remains long. European certification could take until 2028 or even 2031, regulators say.
Air Cambodia signs agreement to purchase 20 C909 regional jets
Air Cambodia, the country’s national flag carrier, has signed an agreement with COMAC to purchase 20 C909 regional jets. The agreement, signed in Shanghai, makes Air Cambodia the first foreign flag carrier to place a bulk order for Chinese-built C909 aircraft.
The first batch is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026 and will enter commercial service with the airline.
The C909 has expanded overseas since entering service in Indonesia in April 2023. It now operates in markets including Laos and Vietnam, serving 28 overseas cities and carrying more than 1 million passenger trips.
