China Eastern Airlines launches Shanghai-Xiamen regular flight by C919

China Eastern Airlines' first commercial flight using the C919, China's first self-developed single-aisle aircraft built by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, flies over Shanghai's iconic buildings on May 28, 2023. （SHI LEI/NANFANG DAILY）

China's self-developed jetliner C919 arrived in Xiamen on May 25 as it completed the first commercial route from Shanghai to Xiamen, marking the beginning of regular flights by C919 between the two cities.

The flight, operated by China Eastern Airlines with 148 passengers on board, departed from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and landed at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and was welcomed by a conventional water salute.

The direct flight between the two cities will run on a daily basis. Flight MU5247 will depart from Hongqiao airport at 7:50 am and arrive at Xiamen at 9:55 am, while the return flight MU 5248 will depart from Xiamen at 10:55 am and land at Hongqiao airport at 12:55 pm.

China Eastern Airlines is currently the largest operator of the aircraft, with the most extensive network of direct flight destinations.

With the launch of this new flight, China Eastern's C919 fleet currently services 12 cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu of Sichuan province, Xi'an of Shaanxi province, Guangzhou and Shenzhen of Guangdong province, Taiyuan of Shanxi province, Wuhan of Hubei province, Shenyang of Liaoning province, Xiamen, and Hong Kong.