SerpApi.Org
Air China is set to introduce the Chinese-manufactured Comac C919 on its first-ever international route. From August 12, the Chinese flag carrier will operate the aircraft between Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Ulaanbaatar International Airport (ULN). This marks the first routine international service for the Chinese plane.
Already, the airline operates a daily service between Beijing and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) with the type, however, this is classed as a regional flight given that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, even though passengers are required to pass through border patrol and customs. Other domestic flights within mainland China are also active, with more than 42,000 flights recorded since the plane's introduction.
Once Daily C919 Service To Ulaanbaatar From August
The service onboard the C919 will depart daily from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, and the plane has a total capacity of up to 158 passengers spread across a two-class configuration (eight in business class, 150 in economy). The route covers a distance of 724 miles (1,166 km), with an approximate flight time of two hours and 15 minutes.
Air China operates a total of 12 C919 airplanes in its fleet. Currently, the route to Ulaanbaatar is served with the carrier's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The addition of the C919 on the city pair is an exciting chapter for the Chinese-manufactured aircraft, which has more than 1,150 airplanes ordered with several Asian based operations including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Hebi Airlines, Lao Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Tibet Airlines, alongside various Asian based aircraft lessors.
The move for Chinese operators to the Comac series of airplanes was positioned to help end the reliance on Western-built aircraft.
Flight Schedule Between Beijing And Ulaanbaatar
According to the Air China website, the C919 service will depart daily from Beijing Capital at 3:00 PM for the two-hour, 15-minute flight to the Mongolian capital. Touching down at Ulaanbaatar at 5:15 PM, the aircraft will remain at the gate for one hour and 15 minutes before operating the return service to Beijing.
Departing from Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 PM, the return journey has an approximate flight time of two hours and five minutes, and will arrive in the Chinese capital at 8:35 PM. Details below:
Air China operates two services to Ulaanbaatar, from Beijing Capital and Hohhot. Other services to China are by Hunnu Air, Juneyao Airlines, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, and Spring Airlines to various destinations across the country.
Chinese-Developed Comac C919 Growth In China
The Comac C919 is developed by Chinese state-owned manufacturer Comac, and was launched back in 2008 as a direct competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The prototype was completed on November 2, 2015, before taking its maiden flight on May 5, 2017, and received its Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) type certificate on September 29, 2022.
China Eastern Airlines was the first customer to receive the aircraft, and put this to commercial passenger service in May 2023. The plane is constructed with aluminum alloys and powered by the popular CFM International Leap turbofan engine. With a range of up to 3,000 nautical miles (5,555 km) in usual conditions, it is a popular choice for short-haul domestic (and now international) operations.
So far, around 40 of the type have been delivered to Air China, China Eastern and China Southern, with a further 1,100 on order. Outside of China, several international operators have shown an interest in the aircraft, albeit yet to sign any paperwork in the form of an order; these airlines include AirAsia, Garuda Indonesia, Ryanair, Equatorial Congo Airlines and Kenya Airways.
Air China's introduction of international flights with the C919 is an exciting step for Comac, and could see the beginning of further international services added in and around Asia in the coming months as more of these aircraft enter service.
