Air China will launch COMAC’s C919 on its first scheduled international route Aug. 12, 2026.
Why it matters: The route gives China’s homegrown narrowbody its first regular service outside the mainland. It also adds a visible test of COMAC’s push into markets long dominated by Boeing and Airbus.
- Air China will operate a daily Beijing Capital-Ulaanbaatar round trip starting Aug. 12, 2026.
- The outbound CA723 is scheduled to leave Beijing at 3:00 p.m. and arrive at 5:15 p.m. local time.
- The return CA724 is scheduled to leave Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 p.m. and arrive in Beijing at 8:35 p.m.
- COMAC’s ARJ21/C909 entered commercial service in 2016, and the C919 first entered domestic service in 2023.
Air China will put COMAC’s C919 on a scheduled Beijing Capital International Airport-Ulaanbaatar route beginning Aug. 12, 2026, giving the jet its first regular international commercial service, according to state-media reporting.
The daily round trip will connect Beijing with Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis Khaan International Airport. The outbound flight, CA723, is set to depart Beijing at 3:00 p.m. and arrive at 5:15 p.m. local time, while the return CA724 is scheduled to leave Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 p.m. and land in Beijing at 8:35 p.m. Beijing time, according to China Daily.
The move extends the C919’s commercial footprint beyond mainland China after the jet first entered domestic service in 2023. COMAC’s earlier ARJ21/C909 family entered commercial service in 2016, giving the company a prior operating base before this cross-border route, according to Marketscreener.
The aircraft remains uncertified by the FAA and EASA, which means access to many Western markets is still blocked. Air China’s 2025 fleet plan shows intended C919 introductions in 2025, 2026 and 2027, indicating the carrier is planning for broader use of the jet, according to an Air China filing.
By the numbers
- Aug. 12, 2026 - Start date for the Beijing-Ulaanbaatar C919 service.
- 3:00 p.m. / 5:15 p.m. - Scheduled departure and arrival times for flight CA723.
- 6:30 p.m. / 8:35 p.m. - Scheduled departure and arrival times for flight CA724.
Yes, but: The route is a first scheduled international service, but FAA and EASA certification are still absent, limiting the jet’s reach into many Western markets.
What's next: Air China is set to begin the daily Beijing-Ulaanbaatar C919 service on Aug. 12, 2026.