On July 29, 2026, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) successfully completed the maiden test flight of its new C919 high-altitude variant. Departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the prototype, registered as B-002U and designated as the C919-600, flew for one hour and 59 minutes, completing all scheduled test flight maneuvers.
Jointly developed by COMAC and Tibet Airlines, the C919-600 features a fuselage that is approximately six frames shorter than the standard C919 model. Designed for high-altitude operations, the aircraft has a passenger capacity of 140 to 160 seats. Under Chinese regulations, airports at elevations of 2,438 meters (8,000 feet) or higher are classified as high-altitude airports.
