C919 Begins International Commercial Service with First Scheduled Beijing–Ulaanbaatar Flight
Dragon Media News Desk
China’s domestically developed C919 large passenger aircraft completed its first scheduled international commercial passenger flight on Wednesday, marking a new stage in the aircraft’s operational expansion.
The Air China-operated C919 departed from Beijing Capital International Airport and landed safely in the afternoon at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water salute ceremony at the airport. After disembarking, passengers were greeted with a Mongolian cultural performance and a welcoming procession featuring attendants in traditional attire.
The Beijing–Ulaanbaatar service is the first regular international passenger route operated by the C919 since the aircraft entered commercial service.
Air China is operating the route under flight numbers CA723 and CA724, with daily scheduled services planned between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar.
The C919 was developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, as China’s first domestically developed large mainline passenger jet for civilian use.
Since entering commercial service in 2023, the aircraft has been deployed on a growing number of domestic routes in China. Chinese airlines, including Air China, have gradually expanded its use across their passenger networks.
The launch of the Beijing–Ulaanbaatar service represents a significant milestone for the C919 program. Although the aircraft had previously appeared outside China for exhibitions and demonstration flights, it had not been used for regular international commercial passenger operations.
The new service follows completion of the necessary bilateral civil aviation and operational procedures required for its deployment on the China–Mongolia route.
The development is being viewed as an important step in China’s broader effort to expand the commercial use of domestically developed passenger aircraft.
For now, the C919 remains primarily concentrated within Chinese airline networks. Any broader international expansion will depend on regulatory approvals in individual markets, airline demand, production capacity and the development of supporting international service networks.
With the launch of scheduled flights between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar, the C919 has formally moved from domestic commercial operations into regular international passenger service.
