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Air China the first international flight of the COMAC C919, which will replace 737 MAX on the route to the capital of Mongolia. Photo Jay Lee
Global commercial aviation has just recorded a historic change of course, 3 years after the first COMAC flight. The 12 august 2026, the state airline Air China marked a before and after by successfully operating the first regular international commercial flight of the COMAC C919, the single-aisle airliner developed, almost, entirely in the Asian country.
COMAC's first international flight
A step to truly compete in a few years with Boeing and Airbus.
The inaugural flight, under the number CA723, took off from Beijing Capital International Airport to Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of mongolia. upon arrival, The aircraft was received with the traditional and protocol "baptism of water", celebrating the beginning of a new era in cross-border routes.
Flight and route details
Until this moment, Flights on this route were usually covered by aircraft Boeing 737 MAX. Nevertheless, starting this week, the COMAC C919 will take over on a regular basis:
- Route: beijing (China) \ Ulán Bator (Mongolia).
- Frequency: The international service will operate daily.
Air China has designed the interior of its C919 with a total capacity of 158 passengers, distributed as follows:
- 8 Seats in Executive Class (Business).
- 150 Seats in economy class (Economy).
COMAC's ambition against Airbus and Boeing
The state manufacturer COMAC (China Commercial Aircraft Corporation) designed the C919 with a clear objective: break the solid duopoly maintained by the European Airbus (with the A320neo) and the American Boeing (with the 737 MAX).
With the incorporation of this new device to its regular service, Air China he fainted 12 planes C919 assets in your fleet. Previously, The airline was already successfully using these models to connect high-density domestic routes and regional routes to Hong Kong.. This step towards Mongolia shows that the plane is ready to leave its borders.
Despite the enormous logistical and political celebration that this flight represents, The COMAC C919 still has two major technical challenges ahead to achieve global success:
- The aircraft has regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), but has not yet received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration. UU. (FAA) nor the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This prevents the C919 from flying commercially in Western markets.
- Although the assembly and design are proudly Chinese, the plane still relies on key Western components. The clearest example is its LEAP-1C engines., manufactured by CFM International (a joint venture between the American General Electric and the French Safran).
First COMAC 919 for height
On the other hand, The first C919 aircraft of the high-altitude airport version made its maiden flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on 29 July 2026. The flight lasted 1 hour and 59 minutes, completing all scheduled tests and marking an important advance in the development of the C919 aircraft series. Starting from base version, the C919 high altitude version incorporates specific designs, such as reducing the fuselage and improving system functions, to meet high altitude operation requirements.
Flight CA723 between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar is much more than just a holiday route; is the litmus test of China to show the world that its aerospace industry is ready to compete in the major international leagues.
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