‘Very smooth’: passenger shares experience on C919’s first commercial international flight
Comac jet’s flight to Mongolian capital on par with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, says passenger who hopes to see more C919 destinations
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.
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.
There is no real difference in passenger experience compared to mainstream models
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.