Flight CA757 takes off from Hohhot Baita International Airport on July 1. [Photo/Benteng Integrated Media Center]

The domestically manufactured C909 aircraft made its first international commercial flight on July 1, operating flight CA757 from Hohhot Baita International Airport in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region to Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia.

The route, operated by Air China under flight numbers CA757/CA758, offers daily flights between Hohhot and Ulaanbaatar, with a single journey taking no more than two hours. The aircraft has a seating capacity of approximately 90 passengers.

This milestone is a joint effort between local authorities and Air China to boost Inner Mongolia's international connectivity and enhance the global presence of China's homegrown aircraft.

It also creates a more convenient link for cultural exchanges, tourism, and economic cooperation between China and Mongolia, injecting new vitality into regional development.

Over the past five years, Air China has integrated the C909 into its network, with operations centered in Beijing, Chengdu, and Hohhot. The airline now operates a fleet of 35 C909 aircraft, with 16 based in Hohhot.

Inner Mongolia aims to use this new C909 route as a launchpad to expand air connections with Mongolia, Russia, and Central Asia, positioning itself as a northern gateway for Chinese-made aircraft and a strategic hub in China's opening-up efforts.