China’s C919 makes first scheduled commercial flight to Hong Kong

China’s first narrowbody passenger jet C919 launched its first commercial flight outside the mainland on New Year’s Day, flying from Shanghai to Hong Kong in a 2.5-hour journey with 157 passengers. The aircraft is comparable with the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 family of single-aisle aircraft. It is considered Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pet project since he assumed the presidency in 2013. Experts say the inaugural flight is the first crucial step for the domestically developed aircraft to make a mark in the international market.