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China’s C919 to Start First Scheduled International Flights to Ulaanbaatar

The move signals Beijing’s push to reduce reliance on Boeing and Airbus by testing the jet’s appeal in nearby markets.

Overview

  • Air China will operate a daily round-trip C919 service between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar starting Aug. 12, 2026, using flights CA723 (Beijing 15:00) and CA724 (Ulaanbaatar 18:30) on the airline’s published schedule.
  • Xinhua and Air China confirmed the date and flight numbers, marking the C919’s first scheduled operation beyond China’s domestic and regional routes.
  • Comac’s C919 is a single-aisle jet built as a domestic alternative to Boeing and Airbus narrowbody models and can carry roughly 158–192 passengers depending on configuration.
  • The BeijingUlaanbaatar route revives a long-standing bilateral link and gives Mongolia more seat capacity on a short international hop that is within the C919’s intended regional range.
  • The step follows the jet’s phased commercial rollout on domestic routes since 2025 and could influence China’s plans to expand C919 sales overseas and reduce dependence on foreign aircraft makers.