C919 aircraft lands in Lhasa, to carry out high plateau test flight missions

(ECNS) -- A homegrown C919 passenger aircraft landed at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport in Xizang Autonomous Region on Thursday. It will carry out a series of high plateau scientific research and test flight missions, according to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (CACC).

The C919 jet reached Lhasa after a 2-hour-and-8-minute flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Sichuan.

It will carry out test flights of key systems for high plateau operation, including environmental control, avionics and power devices, as well as high plateau airport adaptability checks, so as to meet the needs of C919 for operating high altitude routes and developing new aircraft, said CACC.

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, located in the valley of the Yarlung Tsangpo River at an altitude of 3,569 meters above sea level, is surrounded by mountains. The meteorological environment around it is complex and variable.

The C919 aircraft has a layout of 158-192 seats, with a range of 4,075-5,555 kilometers, according to the company.

Up to now, nine C919 aircraft have been delivered to customers, including China Eastern Airlines, Air China, and China Southern Airlines, according to CACC. Since its commercial operations on May 28, 2023, the C919 has logged over 10,000 flight hours, completed more than 3,700 commercial flights, and carried over 500,000 passengers.