At 10:15 a.m. on August 29, after nearly a two-hour flight, China Southern’s first C919 aircraft was delivered from the COMAC base in Pudong, Shanghai to the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The C919 was greeted with water salute after landing.
Earlier in April, China Southern and COMAC signed the agreement to buy 100 C919. These aircraft are planned to be delivered in batches between 2024 and 2031.
Currently, China Southern has established a comprehensive support system for the C919 aircraft and has developed detailed operational plans. It is anticipated that the airline’s first C919 will complete demonstration verification by mid-September and receive commercial flight operating qualifications. The inaugural commercial route is scheduled to operate between Guangzhou and Shanghai Hongqiao on September 19.
The newly introduced C919 aircraft will be based at China Southern’s main hub in Guangzhou, with flight routes extending to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an. As the fleet expands and operational experience grows, China Southern plans to gradually integrate the C919 into its subsidiary operations.
Reporter | Hannah
Video | Pan Jiajun, Ou Nanying
Editor | Nan, Will, James