The inaugural round-trip flights operated by China's first self-developed narrow-body jet, the C919, have been launched from Shanghai and Hong Kong from early 2025. The jet's new route serves as its first commercial operation since last year's delivery of the aircraft to China Eastern Airlines. In what has become a historic moment for the aviation industry, China Eastern is now operating the C919 in "regular regional commercial flight" service.

The flights referred to as regional fly between mainland China and special regions such as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Before it had ever flown a regional route, the C919 was quite experienced as a domestic aircraft. As of late 2024, 14 C919 aircraft have been delivered to 3 airlines. They together have used the jet to serve 15 different regular domestic routes that cumulatively reach 10 different destinations and have carried more than a million people.

At present, China Eastern Airlines operates the most C919 aircraft and serves far more destinations with the craft than any other airline. Hong Kong is the 9th destination among them. In June 2024, China Eastern made a historic flight that saw the C919 operate in commercial service for the first time. The aircraft flew in one-off charter service between Shanghai and Hong Kong on that day. The aircraft now operates a round trip between Hong Kong and Shanghai per day.