CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- China Eastern Airlines’ flight MU5421, operated by the ninth C919 aircraft in its fleet, smoothly landed at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 10:58 AM on December 3, 2024. The flight, carrying 159 passengers, departed from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, marking the official launch of China Eastern Airlines' regular Shanghai-Chongqing route operated by the domestically developed C919 jetliner.

As the aircraft touched down, excitement filled the air. Airport staff and media gathered to welcome the historic arrival, with Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport organizing a celebratory "water salute" to mark the occasion.

Starting December 4, the C919 will operate a daily round-trip flight on the Shanghai-Chongqing express route. The outbound flight, MU5435, will depart Shanghai Hongqiao Airport at 5:05 PM and arrive in Chongqing at 8:10 PM. The return flight, MU5436, will depart Chongqing at 9:30 PM, landing at Hongqiao Airport by 11:40 PM.

Passengers on the inaugural flight were thrilled to experience the pride of China’s aviation industry. Li Peng, a frequent business traveler between Shanghai and Chongqing, couldn’t contain his excitement. As he stepped off the plane, he quickly snapped a photo of the aircraft, exclaiming, “I got to fly on China’s very own large passenger aircraft! I’m so proud!” Having noticed the C919 option while booking his ticket, he eagerly secured a seat. "The flight was incredibly comfortable, with smooth takeoff and landing, minimal noise, and plenty of space," Li added, noting that he plans to choose China Eastern Airlines’ C919 for future trips between Chongqing and Shanghai whenever possible.

Another passenger, Ji Qianqian, expressed her surprise and delight at unknowingly being part of the C919’s maiden flight to Chongqing. “What a surprise! I didn’t even realize this was a special flight,” she said. Ji was particularly impressed by the onboard Wi-Fi capabilities. Notably, this particular C919 (registered as B-657T) is the world’s first equipped with a fully domestically developed cabin LAN service, offering passengers a richer in-flight entertainment experience. Each seat is marked with a "cabin LAN" label, enabling passengers to connect their Wi-Fi-enabled devices in airplane mode to enjoy games, movies, and more.

"I never thought my wish would come true so quickly!" exclaimed Liu Haiqi, a Chongqing-born chief flight attendant who delivered special onboard announcements on the inaugural flight. She is one of the first attendants trained for the domestically produced C919. During her busy work schedule, which often keeps her away from home, Liu expressed her hope that the C919 would someday fly to Chongqing while serving C919 passengers during this year's Labor Day holiday. “I’m so happy! Today, I finally got to visit my hometown aboard our domestically developed jet. Welcome to Chongqing, everyone. Be sure to enjoy authentic hotpot!”

As the world's first airline to commercially operate the C919 aircraft and currently the largest operator of this model, China Eastern Airlines now has a fleet of nine C919s, with a total order of 105. Since its commercial maiden flight on May 28, 2023, the C919 has completed over 5,500 commercial flights and carried more than 750,000 passengers as of November 21, 2024. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)