China’s domestically developed C919 passenger jet will operate its first scheduled international service next month, marking another milestone in the country’s efforts to establish a homegrown rival to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families.
Air China will introduce the narrow-body aircraft on its daily Beijing–Ulaanbaatar route from August 12, 2026, making it the first regular international destination served by the C919.
According to the airline’s published schedule, outbound flight CA723 will depart Beijing Capital International Airport at 3:00 p.m., arriving at Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis Khaan International Airport at 5:15 p.m. local time. The return service, CA724, will leave the Mongolian capital at 6:30 p.m. and land in Beijing at 8:35 p.m.
The Beijing-Ulaanbaatar route has been in operation since 1958 and is currently served by both Air China and MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Mongolia’s national carrier.
The new service represents the first time the C919 is to be deployed on a scheduled international route outside Greater China. While this is a significant step in the aircraft’s international expansion, it has already been operating regional cross-border services.
China Eastern Airlines became the first carrier to fly the C919 outside mainland China when it launched scheduled services between Shanghai and Hong Kong in January 2025. Air China followed by introducing the aircraft on its Beijing-Hong Kong route in November 2025.
More C919 to fly under the colors of Southeast Asian airlines
Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 entered commercial service in 2023 and has gradually expanded across China’s domestic network. The aircraft is designed to compete in the world’s busiest single-aisle aircraft segment, long dominated by Airbus and Boeing.
Although the C919 is still operated primarily by Chinese airlines, COMAC has started building an overseas customer base in Southeast Asia. Foreign airline customers now include GallopAir in Brunei, TransNusa in Indonesia, Air Cambodia, and Lao Airlines. The Laotian carrier has announced plans to operate the C919 through an agreement with COMAC rather than a traditional firm purchase order.
However, the aircraft has yet to receive certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) or the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), limiting its access to many international markets and slowing wider global adoption.
The launch of the Beijing-Ulaanbaatar service is definitely a first step in COMAC’s ambitions to increase the C919’s international presence. For Air China, deploying the C919 on the Mongolia route also demonstrates growing confidence in the aircraft as it expands beyond domestic operations into regular international scheduled services.
