The aircraft marks another step in the expansion of the main commercial jet developed by China, which aims to compete with giants such as Airbus and Boeing.
The airline China Southern Airlines officially put its tenth COMAC C919 jet into service on March 2, 2026, strengthening its position as one of the largest operators of the new narrow-body aircraft developed in China.
With the new aircraft entering service, China Southern now ranks second among the largest C919 operators, behind only China Eastern Airlines, which currently has 14 units of the model in its fleet.
Gradual expansion of the C919 among major Chinese airlines
Today, the three largest airlines in China — Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern — jointly operate 33 production C919 aircraft.
The model is considered the flagship project of China’s commercial aviation industry, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) with the goal of reducing the country’s dependence on Western manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing.
Although the program is progressing, the production pace is still increasing gradually.
In 2025, about 13 aircraft were delivered, while the expectation for 2026 is to reach a rate of two aircraft per month.
Even so, experts point out that this pace is still below the demand of the Chinese domestic market, which continues to be largely dominated by models such as the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX.
Configuration and routes operated
China Southern’s tenth C919 follows the same standard as the airline’s previous aircraft, featuring a two-class configuration with 164 seats, distributed as follows:
- 8 seats in business class
- 156 seats in economy class
The aircraft operate mainly from the airline’s hub in Guangzhou, performing domestic flights between major Chinese cities.
The strategic role of the COMAC C919
The C919 is a single-aisle jet designed to compete directly in the segment dominated by the A320 and 737 models, which account for the majority of aircraft used on short- and medium-haul routes worldwide.
The program represents a strategic initiative by China to develop an independent commercial aviation industry, although the aircraft still uses several international components, including Western engines and systems.
In the coming years, COMAC plans to significantly increase production, aiming to expand the presence of the C919 among Chinese airlines and eventually seek international certifications to expand its operations outside the country.
With the addition of the tenth aircraft to China Southern, the C919 continues to gradually gain ground in Chinese commercial aviation, marking another step in the country’s ambition to compete in the global commercial aircraft market.
+ HMS Dragon finally sails to counter drones in the Mediterranean after controversial delay
Source and images: China Southern Airlines. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
