China's domestically developed large passenger aircraft C919. [Photo/Xinhua]

China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has successfully replaced the first engine for the world's first delivered C919 aircraft, filling a gap in the maintenance capability for the country's homegrown large passenger aircraft.

The engine replacement is one of the most complicated tasks in aircraft maintenance. The main purpose of the engine replacement was to verify the feasibility of the C919's engine replacement process to improve aircraft safety.

The CEA maintenance engineers completed 60 routine tasks and more than 10 non-routine tasks over nine days, with all test parameters normal, successfully completing the first engine replacement of the C919 aircraft numbered B-919A.

The engine replacement "will ensure the sustainable operation of the C919 aircraft in CEA in the future and enhance its performance," said Dong Haoyang, manager of the C919 engine replacement project at China Eastern Xibei Airlines as cited by CCTV+.

The CEA has seven C919 aircraft in operation, serving five commercial routes connecting Shanghai with Beijing, Chengdu, Xi'an and other cities.

Other airlines, including Air China and China Southern Airlines, have also conducted commercial operations with the aircraft.