China’s home-grown C919 jetliner made its inaugural commercial run from Beijing Capital to Hong Kong International Airport on 7 November, the first leg of a commemorative programme honouring the ‘Two Airlines Uprising’ of 1949. Flight CA101, operated by Air China, landed smoothly at 11:00 a.m., carrying officials, aviation historians and media representatives.
The arrival kicked off a series of events leading up to the 76th anniversary on 9 November, when a second C919 service will retrace the historic northbound route from Hong Kong to Tianjin taken by defector pilots who brought 12 civil aircraft under PRC control in 1949. Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Civil Aviation Department hosted an airside ceremony, underscoring the aircraft’s symbolic role in integrating the Greater Bay Area.
![C919 Makes First Commercial Beijing–Hong Kong Flight to Mark ‘Two Airlines Uprising’ Anniversary]()
Beyond its patriotic overtones, the deployment of the C919 on a busy international trunk route showcases the jet’s readiness for cross-border commercial service. For mobility planners, a domestically manufactured narrow-body certified for Hong Kong operations promises longer-term fleet flexibility and potentially more seat inventory on Pearl River Delta shuttles, easing capacity constraints for business travellers.
Air China executives said the carrier will evaluate regular C919 rotations on Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asian routes once additional aircraft join the fleet. Such expansion would diversify China’s short-haul network and support the government’s goal of using indigenous technology to deepen regional connectivity.
The arrival kicked off a series of events leading up to the 76th anniversary on 9 November, when a second C919 service will retrace the historic northbound route from Hong Kong to Tianjin taken by defector pilots who brought 12 civil aircraft under PRC control in 1949. Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Civil Aviation Department hosted an airside ceremony, underscoring the aircraft’s symbolic role in integrating the Greater Bay Area.
Beyond its patriotic overtones, the deployment of the C919 on a busy international trunk route showcases the jet’s readiness for cross-border commercial service. For mobility planners, a domestically manufactured narrow-body certified for Hong Kong operations promises longer-term fleet flexibility and potentially more seat inventory on Pearl River Delta shuttles, easing capacity constraints for business travellers.
Air China executives said the carrier will evaluate regular C919 rotations on Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asian routes once additional aircraft join the fleet. Such expansion would diversify China’s short-haul network and support the government’s goal of using indigenous technology to deepen regional connectivity.
