Thursday, August 29, 2024 Air China and China Southern celebrate a major milestone as they receive their first Comac C919 aircraft, marking a new era in Chinese aviation. Air China and China Southern have officially joined the ranks of operators for Comac’s C919 aircraft, each receiving their first jet during a joint delivery event. This milestone positions the two state-owned airlines alongside launch customer China Eastern, creating a trio of Chinese carriers operating the C919, which Comac describes as the beginning of “multi-user operations.
” The two C919 jets were handed over on August 28 at Comac’s facility in Shanghai Pudong. Air China’s C919, an extended-range variant, carries the special registration number B-919X, while China Southern’s aircraft is marked B-919J. According to Comac, these aircraft represent the eighth and ninth C919s to enter commercial service.
Based in Beijing, Air China has opted for a low-density cabin configuration for its C919s, featuring 158 seats: eight in business class and 150 in economy. This contrasts with the 164-seat layout used by both China Eastern and China Southern. Earlier this year, in April, both Air China and China Southern placed orders for 100 C919 aircraft each, providing a significant boost to the C919 program.
Additional Chinese airlines that have committed to the C919 include Tibet Airlines, which placed an order during this year’s Singapore Airshow, along with Hainan Airlines subsidiaries Suparna Airlines and Urumqi Air. Local media reports indicate that both China Southern and Air China are set to receive two more C919 aircraft before the end of the year. According to Cirium fleet data, Comac currently holds nearly 1,000 firm orders for the C919, with an additional 700 aircraft under preliminary agreements.
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