A C919 airliner designed for large passenger capacity touched down at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, the hub of the Xinjiang region. The landing on Monday, announced by China Commercial Aircraft Corporation Ltd, marked a milestone in the ongoing demonstration flight program being staged to showcase domestic airliner capability.
This initial arrival kicked off a two-week series of test flights. Officials indicated that the aircraft would operate across a network of 25 Xinjiang airports, providing a practical demonstration of performance, reliability, and passenger experience in diverse terrain and weather conditions unique to the region.
Two C919 aircraft have been allocated for the demonstration campaign, enabling back-to-back departures and increased scheduling flexibility. The two jets are slated to perform a sequence of demonstration flights from the Diwopu base for half a month starting September 13, allowing multiple routes and traffic scenarios to be tested in real-world conditions.
According to Wu Xin, one of the pilots involved in the demonstration flights, the initial journey proceeded smoothly and offered a spectacular view of Xinjiang from the air. He noted that the second C919 would arrive soon, expanding the fleet used for the program and enabling broader coverage of the region, including destinations such as Karamay, Yining, Kuqa, and Altai, among other major airports.
Air travel remains the most convenient mode of transportation for moving people across Xinjiang’s vast and varied landscape. The region features a complex mix of terrains and a high density of civilian airports, which presents both opportunities and logistical challenges for commercial aviation. In this context, the ARJ21, another aircraft developed by the same company, now operates on a wide network of routes that connects 25 Xinjiang airports with 95 flight paths, transporting millions of passengers since its introduction.
The C919 demonstration flights are designed to address growing demand for high-quality air travel and to explore new avenues for the commercial deployment of domestically produced passenger aircraft. The program represents a strategic step in leveraging national aviation capabilities, expanding regional access, and enhancing passenger choice across northern and western China.
In parallel with the ongoing demonstration activities, the company has announced a substantial order for the C919 family, underscoring confidence in the aircraft’s capabilities. The order signifies a strong commitment to domestic aviation manufacturing and to widening the footprint of Chinese-built airliners in both routine operations and potential future commercial routes.
China Eastern Airlines has recently accepted delivery of two C919 aircraft that will be deployed on the established air route connecting Shanghai and Chengdu. This milestone reinforces the growing role of domestically produced airliners in regional and national networks, accelerating the modernization of air transport infrastructure and service levels across major metropolitan hubs and distant inland markets alike.