COMAC's C919 Completes First International Commercial Flight

China's COMAC has taken a significant step in its bid to challenge Boeing and Airbus in the commercial aviation market. The state-owned company's C919 passenger jet, operated by Air China, successfully completed its first international commercial flight from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Wednesday.

The two-hour flight marks the first time the C919 has flown a paying route outside Chinese airspace and will be flown daily, according to Air China. The plane, which can seat up to 174 passengers, is seen as a potential rival to Boeing's 737 MAX and Airbus's A320neo.

However, hurdles remain for COMAC, including the C919's reliance on foreign parts, particularly engines, and its lack of certification from US and European aviation regulators. Scott Kennedy of the Center for Strategic and International Studies dismissed Wednesday's flight as 'a public relations move', stating that Ulaanbaatar was chosen because of its proximity to Beijing.