Air China and China Southern receive their first COMAC C919 narrowbodies  

At Beijing’s Capital International Airport (PEK) on August 29, 2024, the first C919 aircraft was delivered by COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) to flag carrier Air China. It is the first domestically produced aircraft to be operated by the company and was treated to a traditional water arch salute upon arrival in Beijing. The plane had been ferried from Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) where COMAC has its final assembly plant. 

In April 2024, Air China signed a contract with COMAC for 100 C919 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled between 2024 and 2031. 

The aircraft (registered B-919X) will be operated by Air China in a two-class configuration, featuring 158 seats comprising eight business class seats and 150 economy class seats. The C919 is equipped with in-flight entertainment for each passenger, designed to enhance the passenger experience. 

The delivery marks another major milestone for the C919 program, as COMAC pushes onward to sell more C919 twinjets to a broader range of customers to compete with the Airbus A220/A320 and the Boeing 737 MAX families of aircraft. 

After the unveiling and operational milestone with dual airline (Air China and China Southern) delivery at the Pudong Base of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) Final Assembly and Manufacturing Center on 28 August, Air China welcomed its first C919 (Registration… pic.twitter.com/T2zE7DpZiG— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 29, 2024According to Air China, in preparation for the arrival of its first C919, the carrier established specialized teams in its aircraft maintenance division, crew training, and ground support functions. It also collaborated with COMAC over operations control aspects of operating the C919 in its fleet.  

“These teams diligently prepared for the aircraft’s entry, including extensive training for pilots, dispatchers, cabin crew, and safety personnel, as well as the development of robust maintenance and operational support systems.” the carrier said. 

Before the aircraft enters commercial service with the airline, Air China will conduct ground tests, route validation flights, emergency evacuation drills, and operational certification to ensure the plane’s smooth transition into passenger service.  

The delivery to Air China coincided with the first delivery of a C919 to China Southern (registered B-919J), which also took place at Pudong on August 29, 2024. The aircraft was then flown on to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), where the carrier maintains a base.  

Like Air China, China Southern signed an agreement with COMAC to buy 100 C919 in April 2024, with the aircraft due to be delivered in batches between 2024 and 2031. 

N509FZ / Wikimedia CommonsAccording to COMAC, the joint delivery of the first C919 aircraft to Air China and China Southern Airlines “underscores a significant achievement for the C919 program. It signaled the beginning of the aircraft’s service with multiple operators, highlighting Comac’s enhanced production capacity and management capabilities.” 

With the delivery of these two latest planes, the C919 program now has delivered nine aircraft, including seven already in service with Chine Eastern, the launch customer for the narrowbody jet.    

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