China Southern Airlines Begins Reservations for First C919 Flights

China Southern Airlines has officially opened reservations for its inaugural flights using the domestically developed Comac C919 aircraft. This marks a significant milestone in the Chinese aviation industry, as China Southern becomes the latest of the three major state-owned carriers to introduce the C919 into its fleet.

On August 28, China Southern received its first C919 aircraft during a joint ceremony with Air China, celebrating the arrival of this new aircraft type to China’s aviation market. The C919, a symbol of China’s growing aerospace capabilities, is now set to take to the skies with China Southern, following its adoption by China Eastern Airlines, the launch customer.

Inaugural C919 Flights Between Guangzhou and Shanghai

According to data from OAG Schedules Analyser, China Southern Airlines will operate its first C919 flights on the busy route between Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The daily service is scheduled to commence on September 19, providing passengers with a new option on this heavily traveled 730-mile (634-nautical mile) sector.

Currently, China Southern serves this route up to nine times per day using a variety of aircraft, including Airbus A321neos, A330s, A350-900s, and Boeing 737-8s, 777-300s, 787-8s, and 787-9s. The addition of the C919 to this mix is expected to enhance the airline’s operational flexibility and showcase the capabilities of China’s homegrown aircraft. In addition to the services between CAN and SHA, China Southern also offers up to three daily flights between Guangzhou and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

China Eastern’s C919 Operations and Fleet Expansion

China Eastern Airlines, the launch customer for the C919, currently operates five routes with the aircraft, including a twice-daily service between Guangzhou and Shanghai Hongqiao. The airline also flies the C919 from SHA to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) up to eight times daily, to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport up to seven times daily, and offers a double-daily service between SHA and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Additionally, China Eastern operates two daily flights between PKX and XIY using the C919.

China Southern’s new C919 will feature a three-class configuration, offering eight seats in business class, 18 in premium economy, and 138 in economy. The airline’s first C919 aircraft is registered as B-919J, marking its entry into service with a modern and comfortable cabin design aimed at enhancing passenger experience.

C919’s Growing Presence in Chinese Aviation

The introduction of China Southern’s C919 comes at a time when the aircraft has already made significant strides in the market. The C919 carried its 500,000th passenger just over 15 months after its commercial debut in May 2023. To date, the aircraft has logged more than 10,000 flight hours and completed 3,700 commercial flights.

China Eastern currently operates seven C919 aircraft and has an additional 98 on order, reflecting strong demand for the new aircraft. Meanwhile, China Southern and Air China have each received one C919, with orders placed for 104 and 99 more aircraft, respectively.

The C919’s entry into service with China Southern Airlines underscores the growing importance of domestically produced aircraft in China’s aviation industry. As the airline prepares to launch its first C919 flights, passengers can look forward to experiencing a new era of Chinese aviation technology.

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