China's domestically produced C919 jetliners have achieved an operational milestone, successfully handling 500,000 passenger trips as of Sunday.
Produced by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 is a narrow-body trunk airliner, meaning it is designed to serve international routes or "trunk" routes between major cities.
Since beginning commercial flights on May 28, 2023, C919 planes have accumulated over 10,000 safe flight hours and completed more than 3,700 commercial flights.
The C919 jetliner has a layout of up to 192 seats, with a range of up to 5,555 kilometers, according to COMAC.
To date, the company has delivered nine C919 aircraft to various customers. China Eastern Airlines, the launch customer for the plane, has reported consistent operational performance since its entry into service 15 months ago, covering five regular routes with over 3,600 commercial flights.
The aircraft is poised to have a promising market outlook due to its adaptability, advanced technology and performance capabilities, combined with China's vast civil aviation market. COMAC, meanwhile, continues to optimize and upgrade the aircraft.
China-made C919 jetliners achieve operational milestone, handling 500,000 passenger trips
China's top housing authority has noted "overall positive changes" in the real estate market, as homebuyer confidence was revived by a series of beneficial measures announced by major Chinese cities since September to boost the country's property markets.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said most cities have seen a rise in visits to property projects by over 50 percent from a year ago.
Thanks to new policy adjustments on Sept 30, both transaction volume and inquiries for second-hand homes in Beijing increased notably during the week-long National Day holiday, which runs from Oct 1 to 7.
"On Oct 1, four orders were signed at our store and on Oct 2, one order was signed, bringing the total number to five. This marks a historical peak in our transaction records," said Liu Qiujing, a house agent at Huilongguan sub-branch of Lianjia Real Estate Brokerage in Beijing.
She also reported that property viewings at her store stood at 39 groups during the holiday, an increase of 15 groups over the previous week.
According to a circular jointly issued by six municipal departments on Sept 30, non-Beijing residents are allowed to purchase homes inside the city's fifth ring road if they have a record of paying social insurance or individual income tax in the city for at least three years - down from five years as was previously required.
The new policies which took effect on Oct 1 also lift the housing purchase restrictions in Tongzhou District, where the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center is located, to allow the district's homebuying rules to comply with the city's unified property market policy.
Under the new rules, homebuyers face less financial pressure, as the minimum down payment ratio for individual commercial mortgages are reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent for first-home purchases, and from 30 percent to 20 percent for second homes.
"Following the introduction of the new regulations, buyers have shown a stronger willingness to purchase properties, acquiring them more swiftly. Clients with rigid demand for residential housing are swiftly entering the market. From the perspective of homebuyers, their confidence has significantly increased," said Liu.
Between Oct 1 and noon of Oct 3, on-site inquiries for second-hand homes in Beijing jumped by 104.1 percent year on year, according to a report on the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
China's housing market sees positive changes following eased homebuying rules
