China’s COMAC C919 narrowbody aircraft has completed its first international passenger flight since entering commercial service. An Air China aircraft departed Beijing for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on August 12, AeroTime reports.

The C919-100(ER), registered B-919Y, departed Beijing Capital International Airport shortly before 15:20 local time and arrived in Ulaanbaatar at around 17:00. Air China had previously operated the daily route between Beijing and the Mongolian capital with a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The flight to Mongolia marks an important milestone for the C919 program. Since the first aircraft was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in 2022, the type had been used exclusively on domestic routes within China. Air China’s flight therefore marked the first time the C919 operated outside the Chinese domestic market in scheduled passenger service.

COMAC developed the C919 as a Chinese alternative to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families, although its market presence remains almost entirely limited to China. According to data cited by AeroTime from ch-aviation, fewer than 40 aircraft have been delivered so far. Current operators include Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

The first international passenger flight could also serve as a demonstration of the aircraft’s capabilities to potential customers outside China. COMAC has been seeking to expand the C919’s market reach for some time, although a more significant push into international markets will require higher production capacity and additional regulatory certifications.

The Ulaanbaatar flight therefore marks a new phase in the development of the C919 program. Although the aircraft still trails the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX by a considerable margin in terms of deliveries and international presence, its first international passenger flight shows that COMAC is gradually moving beyond exclusively domestic operations.