China: China's homegrown C919 aircraft completes 1st int'l commercial flight.

【Voice_over】 Landing at the airport in Ulaanbaatar, the plane received a water salute, a tribute of respect and honor used to celebrate achievements and milestones in the aviation industry. Representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Mongoli as well as officials from Mongolia’s transport and aviation sectors also came to the airport to welcome the arrival of the C919. 【Sound_bite】 Wang Yan, Captain, Air China's C919 Fleet: “This is indeed the first time for the C919 to fly an international route. As the captain operating it, I feel very proud. We have chosen the most skilled pilots in our fleet to carry out the maiden flight work and we have made careful preparations to make sure the flight will be operated successfully.” 【Voice_over】 The C919, manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, made its first commercial flight on May 28th, 2023. Since entering service, the aircraft has steadily expanded its operations across China. As of 2026, all three major Chinese carriers, including China Eastern Airlines, Air China, and China Southern Airlines, operate the C919. Over the past three years, the aircraft has safely carried more than 7.5 million passenger trips, serving routes between more than 20 cities. 【Sound_bite】 Wang Yan, Captain, Air China's C919 Fleet: “I believe from domestic routes, to regional and international routes, the expansion of China’s domestically-made aircraft came from the full effort of our civil aviation personnel. As a pilot, I also feel the great responsibility on my shoulders of flying our C919 well as part of routine work in the future.” 【Voice_over】 Experts say the choice of Ulaanbaatar as the C919’s first regular international destination reflects a combination of factors, including longstanding aviation cooperation between China and Mongolia and existing arrangements for airworthiness certification. And they believe the new route will also help establish the C919’s overseas support capabilities, including maintenance cooperation, spare-parts arrangements and international operating procedures. These capabilities will be crucial as the C919 expands beyond the Chinese market, and the new route is expected to lay a solid foundation for the aircraft’s future development in international markets. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]