The C919 aircraft leaves for Hong Kong International Airport from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on December 12, 2023. Photo: cnsphoto

Two home-developed passenger jets - the C919 and the ARJ21 - visited Hong Kong on Tuesday, the first time for the jets to visit the harbor city, and the first time for the C919 to leave the Chinese mainland. 

The planes received a ceremonial water salute from Hong Kong International Airport. They will welcome visits from local and overseas aviation industry representatives, local media, youth groups and local social groups.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said that the two aircraft will be on static display from Wednesday to Saturday and also make demonstration flights over Victoria Harbor for the public.

The planes were widely welcomed by Hong Kong residents and overseas visitors, many of whom came to the flyover opposite the city's Civil Aviation Department headquarters to take photos of the planes, hk01.com reported.

We look forward to further strengthen our cooperation with mainland partners and contribute to the development of a world-class aviation industry for our country, Lam Tin-fuk, chief executive officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, was quoted as saying by hkcna.hk on Tuesday. 

The planes' visit is part of an exhibition for the civil technology innovation achievements of the CAAC, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) and local partners in Hong Kong.  

It will give Hong Kong residents an in-depth understanding of the development of the country's civil aviation industry, said Cui Xiaofeng, a deputy head of the CAAC, according to Wen Wei Po, a Hong Kong-based Chinese language newspaper.

Developed by COMAC, the C919 is China's first home-developed narrow-body airliner. It carries 156 to 168 passengers in a normal operating configuration. 

Orders for the C919 aircraft have reached 1,061, with two already delivered, He Dongfeng, chairman of COMAC, said at the Pujiang Innovation Forum held in Shanghai in September. 

China Eastern Airlines welcomed its third C919 aircraft on Saturday. The first was delivered in December 2022 and the second in July this year. 

An ARJ21, a domestically developed Chinese passenger jetliner, carried its 10-millionth passenger on November 24, marking another major step in its commercial journey, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Global Times