The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) has successfully delivered the second C919 aircraft to China Eastern Airlines (CEA), bearing the registration code B-919C.
China Eastern received its first C919 last year, but didn’t deploy the aircraft for commercial operations till May 2023.
A hand-over ceremony was held at the flight test complex building at COMAC’s base in Zhuqiao marking airline’s official delivery. The ceremony saw the presence of representatives from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and members of China Eastern’s pick-up team in attendance. Officials from COMAC’s final assembly and manufacturing center were also at the ceremony
The new plane has a two-class cabin configuration identical to the first China Eastern’s first C919, with 164 seats. Business class has eight seats, and the remaining 156 are in economy.
China Eastern is expected to fly the aircraft alongside its first C919 on flights between SHA and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (CFU) in the Sichuan province.
Speaking to Yicai, Li Yangmin, general manager, China Eastern said: “The reason we are first flying the C919 between Shanghai and Chengdu is because it is an adequate flying distance, and the east-west flight will better allow the jet to adapt to environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity.”
China Eastern is the launch customer for the C919. It has ordered five of the aircraft, and it plans to use them on domestic and regional routes. The first commercial flight of the C919 took place on May 28, 2023, from Shanghai to Beijing.
A total of five C919s will be delivered to China Eastern. As of July 12th, the aircraft type has completed 87 commercial flights.