The COMAC C919 has been in operation for around 18 months, with 14 aircraft delivered to airlines and in service in China. However, commercial operations have been largely limited to mainland China, though the jet has made some international appearances without passengers onboard.
That’s all about to change, though, with the news that C919 is to be scheduled on regular service between Shanghai (PVG) and Hong Kong (HKG) from January 1, 2025.
On December 27, 2024, China Eastern Airlines announced that it would be using the C919 for scheduled commercial flights to Hong Kong from the start of the new year. It intends to operate daily round-trip flights with the type following the launch.
According to Aeroroutes, the service is scheduled as follows:
| Flight number | Departure airport | Departure time | Arrival airport | Arrival time |
| MU721 | Shanghai (PVG) | 08:15 | Hong Kong (HKG) | 10:50 |
| MU722 | Hong Kong (HKG) | 11:55 | Shanghai (PVG) | 13:55 |
The C919 will replace the Airbus A321 usually used for this service.
Why is the C919 going to Hong Kong?
For operator China Eastern Airlines, the inclusion of the C919 on a transborder route is likely to be as much a matter of hype as it is about operational needs. International passengers keen to see China’s answer to bestselling narrowbodies from Boeing and Airbus have been limited to domestic services within mainland China. Adding this exotic type on the route could be a competitive winner for China Eastern.
Hong Kong has already seen one commercial service by the C919, when China Eastern flew a group of students to HKG on a charter in June 2024. The C919 is approved to fly in Hong Kong, but it’s not certified in most other nations around the world.
COMAC is keenly hunting international orders for the type, and has opened offices in both Hong Kong and Singapore in the last quarter of 2024. Ch-aviation reports that COMAC is already in talks with Hong Kong Airlines regarding the acquisition of C919s for its future fleet.
Having the aircraft on a regular rotation into HKG would further prove its reliability and efficacy. That could give Kong Kong Airlines and other potential international customers more confidence in placing orders for the type.
Will any international airlines order the C919?
One of the biggest advantages of the C919 was its lower price point than competing airframes. Originally, the C919 was expected to be priced at well under $100 million, with list prices of between $90-$99 million being touted. However, in late 2023, it was revealed COMAC was selling the aircraft for $108 million, not much less than the $110-$120 million of its Boeing and Airbus competitors.
However, the C919 still has one distinct advantage over both the ‘big two’ products – no extensive waiting list. China claims over 1,000 orders for the type, although many of these are ‘letters of intent’ rather than firm orders. Although China’s manufacturing capabilities are limited at present, COMAC has previously declared it wants to get up to a capacity of 150 aircraft per year within the next five years.
With supply chain issues hampering production rate increases for Boeing and Airbus, airlines could potentially get their aircraft sooner if they opt for COMAC. However, the jet is yet to be certified internationally, although COMAC is working closely with both the FAA and EASA to secure the necessary authorizations.
Brazil’s Total Linhas Aereas, a small cargo and charter airline, has expressed an interest in the C919, and could become the first international airline to order the type. COMAC has also been courting customers in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Kazakhstan for orders.