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The C919, China's domestically developed narrowbody passenger jet, will begin its first scheduled international commercial service next month, a step industry experts said will test the aircraft's ability to operate beyond domestic markets and help build confidence for wider overseas expansion.
中国自主研发的窄体客机C919将于下月开启首条国际定期商业航线。业内专家表示，此举将检验该机境外运营能力，也有助于为后续更大规模海外拓展积累信心。
The daily round-trip service, operated by Air China, will connect Beijing Capital International Airport and Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Mongolia from Aug 12, the airline said.
国航方面透露，这条每日往返航线将于8月12日起通航，往返北京首都国际机场与蒙古国乌兰巴托成吉思汗国际机场。
According to the schedule, outbound flight CA723 will depart Beijing at 3 pm Beijing time and arrive in Ulaanbaatar at 5:15 pm local time. The return flight, CA724, will leave Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 pm local time and arrive in Beijing at 8:35 pm Beijing time.
根据航班计划，出境航班CA723北京时间15时从北京起飞，当地时间17时15分抵达乌兰巴托；返程航班CA724当地时间18时30分从乌兰巴托起飞，北京时间20时35分落地北京。
The route marks the first time the C919, manufactured by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, will enter a regular international commercial passenger aviation market.
该航线是中国商飞制造的C919客机首次投入常态化国际客运商业运营。
Previously, the aircraft has operated mainly on Chinese mainland routes, as well as services connecting the mainland with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. China Eastern Airlines launched the aircraft on scheduled flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong in January 2025, while Air China began regular C919 services between Beijing and Hong Kong in November.
在此之前，C919主要执飞中国大陆境内航线，以及内地往来香港特别行政区的航班。东方航空已于2025年1月用该机开通沪港定期航线，国航则在同年11月开通京港C919常态化航班。
"Choosing Ulaanbaatar as the first regular international destination is not a move to lower the entry barrier or test the waters," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.
中国新经济研究院创始院长朱克力表示：“选择乌兰巴托作为首条国际定期航线目的地，并非为了降低准入门槛、浅尝辄止。”
Zhu said the decision reflected a combination of factors including aviation cooperation between China and Mongolia, airworthiness cooperation arrangements, operational safety and route economics.
朱克力称，这一决定是多重因素综合考量的结果，涵盖中蒙航空合作、适航协作机制、运营安全以及航线经济效益。
"China and Mongolia have maintained stable civil aviation cooperation, with a relatively mature framework for airworthiness cooperation," Zhu said. "The airport environment is relatively straightforward, the flight distance is moderate and the aircraft can complete a round trip within a day, allowing domestic technical support to respond quickly if operational issues arise."
朱克力表示：“中蒙民航合作长期稳定，双方拥有较为成熟的适航协作体系。当地机场运行环境简单，航程适中，客机可当日往返，一旦出现运行故障，国内技术保障力量能快速响应处置。”
The route also has established business and tourism demand, making it suitable for regular commercial operations rather than serving only as a demonstration flight, Zhu said.
他表示，该航线拥有稳定的商务、旅游客流需求，适合常态化商业运营，而非仅作为示范航班。
He said the first international route is aimed at validating the full process of cross-border operations, including overseas maintenance support, international air traffic coordination and customs procedures.
他表示，首条国际航线的核心目的是完整验证跨境运营全流程，包括境外维修保障、国际空管协调、海关通关流程等环节。
"Ulaanbaatar is more like a low-risk practical training ground where the C919 can accumulate real overseas operating data and build a replicable model for future international expansion," Zhu said.
朱克力称：“乌兰巴托更像一处低风险实操试验场，C919可以在这里积累真实海外运营数据，为后续国际化拓展打造一套可复制的运营模式。”
Guo Jia, a civil aviation expert and professor at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies' South China Business College, said safety considerations were the primary factor behind the selection of the first international destination.
广东外语外贸大学南国商学院民航专家郭佳教授表示，安全考量是选定首个国际通航点的首要因素。
He said Air China's previous experience operating the C909 regional jet to Ulaanbaatar, along with the airline's assessment of airport handling and maintenance capabilities, also supported the route choice.
他介绍，国航此前长期使用ARJ21支线客机执飞乌兰巴托航线，同时航司对当地机场地面保障、维修维护能力进行过充分评估，这也助推了这条航线落地。
For the Chinese aviation industry, the significance of the route extends beyond the flight itself, experts said.
专家指出，对中国航空产业而言，这条航线的意义远不止航班运营本身。
"Previously, C919 operations were mainly based on China's domestic airspace and supporting infrastructure," Zhu said. "This scheduled international route means the aircraft is entering a regular commercial passenger aviation system between countries."
朱克力表示：“此前C919的运行完全依托国内空域与配套保障体系，这条国际定期航线，标志着该机正式进入跨国常态化商业客运体系。”
The operation will help establish overseas support capabilities, including maintenance cooperation, spare parts arrangements and international operating procedures, Zhu said.
朱克力称，此次通航将助力搭建境外配套保障体系，涵盖维修合作、备件储备、跨境运营流程等多个方面。
Guo said international expansion would require more than aircraft performance. "Aircraft sales, international operations and market expansion all need to comply with the airworthiness standards of different countries and regions," Guo said, adding that broader international communication and certification efforts would be necessary.
郭佳表示，国际化拓展不只是考验飞机性能。“飞机销售、跨境运营、市场开拓都必须符合各国各地区的适航标准，还需要开展大量国际沟通与适航认证工作。”
Guo added that overseas maintenance, aircraft support and route support capabilities would be among the key challenges for international operations.
郭佳补充，境外维修、整机后勤保障、航线配套能力，将是该机开展国际运营的核心难点。
Looking ahead, experts expect the C919's international expansion to be gradual. "C919's internationalization will not follow an aggressive model of rapidly launching a large number of routes," Zhu said.
展望未来，专家认为C919的国际化进程将循序渐进。朱克力表示：“C919不会采取激进模式，短时间内密集开通大量国际航线。”
After validating operations in Ulaanbaatar, the aircraft will likely expand first into short-haul international markets in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, allowing it to accumulate experience under different operating conditions, Zhu said.
朱克力表示，在乌兰巴托航线完成运营验证后，C919大概率会先拓展中亚、东南亚短途国际市场，在多样运行环境中积累运营经验。
"The priority is to complete the transition from zero to one — making the first international route operate safely and accumulating experience," Guo said. "Only after establishing overseas safety operation and maintenance standards should the C919 move from one route to multiple routes.
郭佳称：“当下首要任务是完成从0到1的突破，保障首条国际航线安全运行、沉淀实操经验。只有建立成熟的境外安全运营与维修标准后，C919才能从单条航线拓展至多条国际航线。”
"Airworthiness certification is indeed one of the biggest barriers for the C919 entering mainstream European and US markets," Zhu said.
朱克力表示：“适航认证，确实是C919进入欧美主流市场最大阻碍之一。”
He said certification by authorities such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration would be essential, while airlines' familiarity with the aircraft, maintenance networks, leasing systems and market recognition would also influence adoption.
他表示，获取欧盟航空安全局、美国联邦航空管理局等机构的适航认证至关重要；同时航司对机型的熟悉度、全球维修网络、飞机租赁体系以及市场认可度，都会影响各国引进该机的意愿。
narrowbody /ˈnærəʊbɒdi/窄体客机
airworthiness /ˈeəwɜːðinəs/适航性
certification /ˌsɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/认证
infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/基础设施
short-haul /ˌʃɔːt ˈhɔːl/短途的
maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/维修，维护
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