The inaugural flight using China's homegrown C919 aircraft touched down at the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 9:19 a.m. -- less than two hours after taking off from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport -- on Sunday, signifying the C919's start of passenger service on the Shanghai-Xiamen air route.

Flight MU5247, carrying 148 passengers, slowly taxied through a water salute after landing, a prestigious aviation tradition, marking the C919's maiden flight to Xiamen.

Starting from Sunday, the C919 will be in regular service on the Shanghai-Xiamen express route, with one daily round-trip flight.

The outbound flight, MU5247, departs from Shanghai Hongqiao at 7:50 a.m. and arrives in Xiamen at 9:55 a.m.

The return flight, MU5248, takes off from Xiamen at 10:55 a.m. and lands in Shanghai Hongqiao at 12:55 p.m.

This new service fully meets the needs of business travelers for same-day round trips and significantly improves travel efficiency between the two cities.