Distinguished by the national flag livery, a China-made C919 aircraft, operated by China National Aviation Holding Corporation Limited (Air China), landed at Yan’an Nanniwan Airport in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province on June 24, marking the first commercial flight of the aircraft to Yan’an, one of China’s old revolutionary base areas.
The airport personnel gave the aircraft's inaugural visit a traditional water salute, the civil aviation industry’s highest welcoming honor. On the tarmac, local residents expressed a joyous welcome with a vibrant performance of waist drums.
A C919 aircraft sweeps past the Baota mountain, a landmark tourist attraction in Yan’an, on June 24. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
On the same day, Air China held a promotional conference in Yan’an to introduce its commercial flight routes to China’s prominent revolutionary base areas. The domestically produced C919 and C909 aircraft were both showcased at the event. Local teacher and student representatives were invited to take the C909 aircraft to Beijing, China’s capital, for a three-day study tour.
A C919 aircraft (left) and a C909 aircraft are shown at the Yan’an Nanniwan Airport. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Air China now operates 16 routes to iconic cities such as Jinggangshan, Yan’an, Ruijin and Zunyi across the three major old revolutionary base areas of Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia, Sichuan-Shaanxi and South Jiangxi, with 130 one-way flights per week during the summer and autumn season this year.
Air China has also introduced a range of themed initiatives to promote the Red resources in these areas, and has been transporting agricultural products of the areas to other regions, in order to develop the local culture and tourism industry and advance comprehensive rural vitalization.
In recent years, Air China has integrated the task of assistance to the old revolutionary base areas into its high-quality development agenda. It has launched more routes to the revolutionary areas with better service and strengthened win-win cooperation with local enterprises, all in order to boost the economic development of these regions.
(Executive editor: Zuo Shihan)
