The story
The C919 first flew in May 2017, earned its Chinese type certificate in September 2022 and carried its first passengers with China Eastern on 28 May 2023, Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing Capital. It is a 158-to-168-seat single-aisle built to compete with the A320neo and 737 MAX, powered by CFM LEAP-1C engines. About 40 had been delivered by mid-2026, to China Eastern, Air China and China Southern. Europe's safety agency has not certified it yet.
The name is a code: C for China and COMAC, the first 9 because it sounds like the Chinese word for 'forever', and 19 for its roughly 190-seat capacity.
Quick answers
How do you identify a C919?
Easy to mistake for an A320neo. Every operator so far is Chinese (China Eastern, Air China and China Southern), so an A320-sized jet in one of those liveries deserves a second look.
What does a C919 sound like?
LEAP engines give a smooth, modern high-bypass hum, much like an A320neo.
How many people does the C919 carry?
Typical configuration: 158-168.
How far can the C919 fly?
Range is about 2,200 nmi (standard).
How big is the C919?
It is 127 ft 7 in long.
When did the C919 first fly?
Its first flight was in 2017.
How many C919s have been built?
About 40 delivered (2026) built.
How rare is a C919 in Bogey?
UNCOMMON. Not rare, but not every day either. Worth looking up for. Your first C919 catch is worth 50 points.
