China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first C919 passenger jet on Friday. (Photo provided to People's Daily)

The first C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first domestically-built long-distance transport jet aircraft, has been delivered to China Eastern Airlines on Friday.

Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the airliner represents a milestone in the country's decades-long pursuit of civil planes designed and manufactured locally.

The aircraft adopts a 164-seat configuration that comes with a two-class cabin layout, including 8 business class seats and 156 economy class ones.

With registration number B-919A, the aircraft completed its maiden flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport during the delivery process.

The aircraft is expected to make its commercial debut early next year.

China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first C919 passenger jet on Friday. (Photo provided to People's Daily)

COMAC received 300 orders for C919 jet at the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province in November.

C919 made its maiden flight in 2017 and received a certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China this September.

Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines is the second-largest carrier by passenger numbers in China. It boasts a fleet of nearly 800 airplanes.