On the first day of the new year, the domestic large passenger aircraft C919 opened a regular Shanghai-Hong Kong flight.
On January 1, 2025, with the roar of its engines, the domestic large passenger aircraft C919 took off from Hongqiao International Airport and flew straight to the clouds. This was the first time that the C919 flew the “Shanghai Hongqiao to Hong Kong” round-trip flight, marking the official launch of its commercial operation on regional routes. The Hongqiao Border Inspection Station of the Shanghai General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection customized a border clearance guarantee plan, opened a “special channel” to escort the smooth operation of the C919 on the Shanghai-Hong Kong regular flights.
At 6:30 in the morning, passengers and crew members taking the MU721 (Shanghai Hongqiao – Hong Kong) flight arrived at the border inspection hall one after another. Under the guidance of border inspection staff, they queued in an orderly manner for inspection. Inside the verification counter, immigration management police carefully checked passenger information and quickly handled border clearance procedures.
“Today is the first flight of the C919 on a regular scheduled commercial flight, and it is a great honor to participate in this historic flight. The staff at the Hongqiao Border Inspection Station have done an excellent job in ensuring clearance efficiency and providing friendly service, allowing us to peacefully prepare for the flight,” said Shang Feng, the general manager and pilot of the C919 flight department of China Eastern Airlines Shanghai Flight Department, who was flying this flight.
To ensure the smooth operation of the C919, the Hongqiao Border Inspection Station of Shanghai General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection made early preparations, actively connected with airports and airlines to confirm flight plans, accurately掌握了航班动态，and developed a special service guarantee plan. At the border inspection site, police on duty were scientifically allocated, inspection channels were fully opened in advance, clearance procedures were optimized to ensure efficient and convenient passage for passengers and maintain safety and stability at ports.
“I am very excited to take the domestic large passenger aircraft C919 on the first day of the new year. The entire clearance process was also very fast, making me truly feel that our country is becoming stronger,” said Ms. Huang, a passenger who was excited to tell reporters about her journey on this flight to Hong Kong.
“We have opened a special channel for passengers taking the C919 domestic large passenger aircraft at Hongqiao Airport on that day. We have also调配了精英力量，加强了现场的政策咨询和服务指引，科学运用快捷通道分流，保障旅客通关更加顺畅。在入境现场，我们还设置了‘外国人入境卡’电子填报自助打印终端，让乘坐国产大飞机来华的外国友人通关更加便利。”Hongqiao Border Inspection Station’s Director of Immigration Inspection,董建国，告诉记者。
The C919 large passenger aircraft is the first domestically-produced jetliner in China that is developed in accordance with internationally accepted airworthiness standards and has independent intellectual property rights. After its deployment on regular commercial flights of the “Shanghai-Hong Kong Express,” it is scheduled to operate one round trip per day with flight numbers MU721 (Shanghai Hongqiao – Hong Kong) and MU722 (Hong Kong – Shanghai Hongqiao). The relevant flights have been entered into the system for sale, and passengers can see the aircraft type information of C919 on ZH Airlines’ own sales channels and various OTA platforms and purchase tickets accordingly.
