Chinese C919 jet to fly Beijing-Ulaanbaatar route in first international service

Air China announced it will deploy the C919, a passenger jet manufactured in China, on its daily route between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar starting August 12. This deployment signifies the aircraft's first regular international passenger service, connecting the capitals of China and Mongolia.

The route, already on sale, will feature a daily round trip. Flight CA723 is scheduled to depart from Beijing Capital International Airport at 3:00 PM local time, arriving in Ulaanbaatar at 5:15 PM. The return flight, CA724, will depart Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 PM local time, arriving back in Beijing at 8:35 PM.

Currently, Air China operates the C919 on a domestic regional route between Beijing Capital and Hong Kong. The airline has received 12 units of this aircraft model to date. The C919, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), is China's first domestically produced narrow-body aircraft, with a seating capacity ranging from 158 to 192 passengers and a flight range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometers.

Since its domestic routes began in May 2023, the C919 has been undergoing certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The aircraft is positioned to compete with established models like the U.S. Boeing 737 and the European Airbus A320. While the C919 incorporates Western components, it represents China's strategic effort to lessen its dependence on foreign manufacturers in aerospace technology, with a long-term goal of establishing a fully indigenous supply chain.