Comprehensive aviation upgrade in the offing

Particularly, the Asia-Pacific market is expected to represent more than 40 percent of global demand, with half of that coming from China. In the next 20 years, new single-aisle airplanes will account for more than 75 percent of all new deliveries, up slightly from the 2022 outlook, and totaling more than 32,000 airplanes, Boeing forecast.

Facing a vast international market, the C919 still needs to continuously consolidate its foundation in industrial chain upgrading, market-oriented expansion and commercial operation for further development, industry experts said.

"Airlines should provide timely and comprehensive feedback to COMAC about their experiences in subsequent commercial flights involving the C919, and support COMAC and relevant suppliers in gradually improving more technical details," said Li Xiaojin, a professor of aviation economics at Civil Aviation University in Tianjin.

"COMAC should also seek breakthroughs in more core technologies. The proportion of self-developed components in the overall value chain of the C919 is not high enough, especially due to the lack of materials and technologies in the manufacture of some parts like aviation engine blades. Breaking those bottlenecks will be key to further mass production, delivery and cost controls," Li said.

The C919 is not only designed to meet the development demand of the civil aviation industry, but can help drive significant progress in areas like new materials, modern manufacturing, advanced propulsion system and automatic control; what's more, it can drive the growth of numerous high-tech industries in China, Li said.