China-built narrow-body aircraft debuts in Spring Festival travel rush

China's first self-developed narrow-body aircraft C919 debuted in the nation's busiest traveling period by carrying 1,274 passengers on Friday, the first day of this year's Spring Festival travel rush that runs through March 5, according to the jet's first global customer China Eastern Airlines.

The four C919 conducted a total of 10 flights between Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Shanghai and Sichuan province's Chengdu on Friday.

"This year's peak traveling season is expected to see more travelers and we are proud to be serving passengers on homeward trips with China-built aircraft," said Yin Yu, chief attendant on duty of the first C919 flight served for the 40-day rush period.

The Ministry of Transport expects some 9 billion passenger trips will be made during the annual Spring Festival travel rush, known as the world's largest annual human migration. Following the Chinese tradition, people working outside of their hometowns will head home for family reunions before the Lunar New Year falling on February 10 this year.