According to China Southern Airlines officials, the carrier declared expects its new C919 narrow-body passenger jet to commence commercial operations by mid-September. The airline, headquartered in Guangzhou, welcomed its first C919 aircraft into its fleet following its arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Thursday morning. The maiden commercial flight of the C919 passenger plane is planned to take place from Guangzhou to Shanghai on September 19.
The inaugural C919 aircraft of China Southern Airlines is designed with a three-class configuration, accommodating a total of 164 passengers. This includes 8 seats in business class, 18 in premium economy, and 138 in economy class.
The airline plans to utilize the C919 aircraft it acquires this year at Guangzhou airport, offering flights to various destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an.
In April, China Southern finalized an agreement to purchase 100 C919 aircraft from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), with deliveries expected to continue until 2031.
China Southern Airlines and Air China took delivery of their inaugural C919 aircraft in Shanghai yesterday, marking a significant milestone as the nation’s first domestically manufactured large passenger aircraft embarks on a new stage of multi-operator deployment.
As of today, COMAC has successfully delivered nine C919 aircraft, all to three prominent Chinese airlines. China Eastern Airlines, the initial customer for the C919, has experienced reliable operational performance since its introduction into service 15 months ago, operating five regular routes and completing over 3,600 commercial flights.
