China Eastern receives fifth COMAC C919 of 2024; first equipped with onboard Wi-Fi

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China Eastern receives fifth COMAC C919 of 2024; first equipped with onboard Wi-Fi

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Nov 28, 2024

At 9:47 a.m. on November 28, the Chinese self-developed Comac C919 aircraft, registered as B-657T, completed its ferry flight MU9002 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. This delivery marks the fifth C919 received by China Eastern Airlines in 2024 and is notable for being the first in the world equipped with a cabin-based local area network (LAN), which enables onboard connectivity and entertainment.

The latest C919 features a passenger cabin LAN service provided entirely through Chinese domestically-developed equipment. Passengers can connect their personal devices to the wireless hotspot "CEAIR-WIFI" after activating airplane mode. By accessing www.muflyer.com, travelers can enjoy various entertainment options such as "Air Cinema" for movies and "Air Games" for gaming, along with destination guides and museum recommendations.

This new service enhances the in-flight experience by allowing passengers to engage in activities like gaming and movie-watching while traveling on the C919. Each seat includes instructions for accessing the LAN, facilitating easy connection for passengers.

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The innovative LAN system was developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) and has undergone necessary certification processes. It uses a high-speed gigabit Ethernet backbone integrated with wireless features and supports dynamic load balancing and wireless channel optimization. The infrastructure is prepared for future upgrades with reserved 5G and satellite communication interfaces.

Currently in trial operation, this service will be gradually expanded to all of China Eastern's C919 aircraft. The airline has designed a specialized "content library" that will be regularly updated to ensure fresh content.

Although China Eastern Airlines now has nine COMAC C919 aircraft with Wi-Fi capabilities, it is not the first airline to deploy a Wi-Fi-enabled C919 commercially. Air China holds that distinction, having introduced this feature from its initial delivery on August 26, 2024. The ER variant of Air China's C919 includes enhanced performance and an extended range with a more spacious cabin layout.

Earlier this month, Air China received its second C919 featuring onboard Wi-Fi, which operates daily flights on the Beijing-Wuhan route. With these advancements, Air China leads in integrating connectivity and comfort using domestically developed aviation technology.