A high-altitude variant of China’s C919 passenger jet takes off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport yesterday, completing its maiden test flight. The variant, based on the standard C919, features a shortened fuselage and system upgrades to support operations at high-altitude airports, China Central Television reported. Under Chinese regulations, airports at 2,438 meters or higher are classified as high-altitude. Designed for 140 to 160 passengers, the variant is a key addition to the C919 family, with takeoff and landing performance tailored for all of China’s high-altitude airports. The C919 is China’s first domestically built narrow-body jet in commercial service.China News Service