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‘Very smooth’: passenger shares experience on C919’s first commercial international flight

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Xinyi Wuin BeijingPublished: 5:30pm, 13 Aug 2026Updated: 9:14pm, 13 Aug 2026

Arriving at his gate at Beijing Capital International Airport for a routine business trip to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday, Howard Deng was unaware he was about to take part in a Chinese aviation milestone.

Air China flight 723 marked the first international service featuring the domestically produced C919 narrowbody jet from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), central to Beijing’s ambition to challenge the global duopoly of Boeing and Airbus.

As one of 111 passengers, Deng received a commemorative panda plush toy before departure. Touchdown at Chinggis Khaan International Airport came one hour and 41 minutes later, when the aircraft was greeted on the tarmac by a water-cannon salute.

“The flight was very smooth,” said Deng. “It felt basically no different from a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320.”

For Deng – who preferred not to share other biographical details – it was his first time aboard the C919. He noted that the cabin layout, legroom and lavatory size were similar to other aircraft that he had flown on.

Though he ended up on the flight by chance, Deng found the cabin noticeably busier than usual. Some travellers had specifically made a booking for the inaugural service, armed with cameras to document the trip, he said.

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