(Yicai Global) July 21 -- China's ARJ21s have transported 1 million passengers in four years since the first homegrown regional jet's debut.

The one-millionth passenger was on Chengdu Airlines's flight EU6674 that flew more than 1,600 kilometers to the capital city of Sichuan province from Jiangxi province's Shangrao last night, Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, the developer of the aircraft, said in a statement today.

The ARJ21 kicked off commercial operations in 2016 after completing its first test flight in Shanghai in November 2008. The 90-seat aircraft has a range of up to 3,700 km.

Chengdu Airlines, the first user of the made-in-China product, has 21 such aircraft. The southwestern airline has set up six domestic bases for the purpose and is planning to form another one in the Gulf of Tonkin to start flying to Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

COMAC has delivered 33 ARJ21s to domestic airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines and the fleet already flies to 56 cities.

Next, the Shanghai-based plane manufacturer is planning to deliver its first large passenger aircraft C919 next year.

Editor: Emmi Laine