China’s domestically developed CE-25A electric commercial aircraft, designed to carry 19 passengers, has successfully completed its first crewed test flight in Binzhou, Shandong Province, marking a significant milestone in the country’s electric aviation development.
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV News and Xinhua News Agency, the 10-tonne aircraft completed the test flight on Saturday (14 November), carrying two pilots and a flight-test engineer.
The test lasted 57 minutes and 46 seconds, including 16 minutes and 38 seconds in the air, during which the aircraft travelled 60.4 kilometres.
Aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) said the aircraft operated normally throughout the test, with all performance indicators meeting expectations.
The CE-25A is COMAC’s first electric commercial aircraft and is designed primarily for short-distance passenger services between cities.
The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 10 tonnes, a cruising speed of 300 kilometres per hour, a cruising altitude of 2,400 metres and a range of 400 kilometres.
Unlike conventional aircraft powered by aviation fuel, the CE-25A uses a distributed electric propulsion system, with electrically driven ducted fans mounted along its wings.
The aircraft is being developed by COMAC in collaboration with Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other partners.
Saturday’s achievement follows the aircraft’s first autonomous intelligent flight on February 2, 2026.
According to Chinese media, the aircraft has completed 19 unmanned autonomous flight verification tests as part of its development programme.
China’s Civil Aviation Administration has accepted the aircraft’s application for type certification, an important regulatory step before the aircraft can enter commercial passenger service.
The latest successful test marks another step in China’s efforts to develop electric-powered aircraft for regional commercial aviation, although the CE-25A has yet to receive certification for regular passenger operations. (Newswire)
