China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft - the C919 - is expected to make its maiden flight in the first half of this year, the People's Daily reported on Monday.

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, the Shanghai-based developer of the aircraft, has almost completed the onboard systems installation as well as major static and system integration tests, since it was built on Nov 2, 2015, the report added.

The static test simulates flight pressures in the aircraft.