For more than six years now, I have been covering the aviation industry, including major milestones in the journey of the homegrown C919 aircraft. While it gives me no pleasure to confess that hectic work and life have so far kept me from stepping onboard China's latest pride in the skies, I'm hopeful it will happen sooner than later.

For the uninitiated, the C919 is China's first self-developed single-aisle large aircraft, built by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China. Conceptualized in 2007, and developed over a period of 10 years, the first test flight of the C919 in 2017 was successful, paving the way for its first commercial flight in late May.

China Eastern Airlines uses the aircraft model now for three-hour flights between Shanghai and Chengdu, Sichuan province.

The May 29-June 4 week saw online searches for the C919 flights surge 600 percent over the previous week, suggesting flyers are keen to experience the new plane, according to Trip.com Group, China's leading online travel agency.

China Eastern has placed an order for five new C919 planes. Delivery will be determined by the actual operational situation and the airline's flight network planning.

The C919 is the first single-aisle large aircraft for which China owns independent intellectual property rights, thereby earning the "Made in China" prestige for the large-scale passenger jet.

COMAC is on course to apply for airworthiness certificates for the C919 from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States to operate in some foreign countries.

The C919 boasts unique and innovative cabin design that provides a more comfortable flying experience. The middle seat of the C919 is 1.5 cm wider than the window and aisle seats. Compared with the middle seats in narrow-body Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 models, the C919 has an edge.

Each seat in the C919 is equipped with a power socket at the bottom, making it convenient for passengers to charge their mobile phones and other electronic devices onboard. The tray table of the C919 also contains a distinctive design complete with a mobile phone holder, which makes it more convenient for passengers to watch videos on their mobile phones on the plane.

China Eastern and COMAC's preparations for the C919 commercial flights included thorough training for the crew and ground staff members leading to requisite qualifications. This is one of the reasons why only a single C919 plane is in use now.

Stay tuned, I hereby promise to tell more C919 stories in the weeks and months to come, including my personal experiences — where the bird is better, where it can improve and all that.