On the 3rd, the international passenger route from Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, directly to Manado, Indonesia, was officially launched. The route is operated by Indonesia's TransNusa Airlines using the China-made regional jet C909. This marks the “maiden flight” of the C909 at Shenzhen Airport, and also the first time a domestically produced aircraft has undertaken an international route mission in Shenzhen, regarded as an important step towards promoting the internationalization, quality, and networked operation of Chinese-made aircraft.
Li Yaomin, Vice Chairman of TransNusa Airlines, stated that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia. The opening of this route is a powerful testimony to the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries and will provide a new quality Southeast Asian island destination option for travelers in Shenzhen and its surrounding areas.
Manado is located in the bay at the northern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia, and is the capital of North Sulawesi province. In 1658, the Dutch East India Company established a military base there. Over time, it has developed into the second largest city on Sulawesi, renowned for its beautiful coastlines.
This route is operated by the domestic C909 model, making its first appearance at Shenzhen Airport and also undertaking an international route mission. The C909 aircraft is China’s first independently developed, internationally certified, medium- to short-range new generation turbofan regional jet with its own intellectual property rights. Since entering commercial operation in 2016, more than 160 aircraft have been delivered to the market, serving over 10 Chinese and international airlines, flying more than 700 routes, and transporting over 24 million passengers.