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

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.