Air China, China Southern Take First Deliveries of Domestically-Made C919s

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Air China and China Southern Airlines received their first C919 domestically produced large passenger aircraft at the Pudong base of Comac's final assembly and manufacturing center on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Air China Ltd. (601111.SH) and China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. (600029.SH) received their first C919 passenger jets Wednesday, state media reported, as deliveries of the homegrown aircraft touted as a rival to Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ 320 accelerate.

The two airliners are part of a $20.7 billion order the carriers announced in April for 200 C919s from Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (Comac). The deliveries would take the total number of airlines flying the C919 to three, including China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. (600115.SH). The state-owned trio, often referred to as China’s “Big Three,” have in total signed up for over 300 C919 jets.

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Air China and China Southern Airlines each received their first C919 jets and are part of a $20.7 billion order for 200 C919s from Comac.
Comac has delivered nine C919 jets since December 2022, aiming to compete with Boeing and Airbus, though its planes lack international certification.
Comac’s production is expanding with a new facility in Shanghai, but faces supply chain challenges due to reliance on European and U.S. components.

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Who’s Who

Air China Ltd.: Air China Ltd. (601111.SH) received its first C919 passenger jet, which is equipped with 158 seats, including 8 in business class and 150 in economy class. The delivery is part of a larger $20.7 billion order for 200 C919 jets from Comac. The carrier needs to conduct extra operational qualifications before using the jet commercially.

China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd.: China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. (600029.SH) received its first C919 jet, featuring business, premium economy, and economy classes with a total of 164 seats. The airline is part of a $20.7 billion order for 200 C919s from Comac. Further operational qualifications are required before commercial operation.

Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (Comac): Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (Comac) is a Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer aiming to compete with Boeing and Airbus. It has been accelerating deliveries of its homegrown C919 passenger jet, with nine deliveries since December 2022. Comac plans to expand production capacity with a second base in Shanghai. However, it faces challenges due to reliance on European and U.S. components, though it currently maintains a stable supply chain.

China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd.: China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. (600115.SH) is one of China's "Big Three" state-owned airlines. It recently added the seventh C919 jet to its fleet and is part of the $20.7 billion order for 200 C919s from Comac. The airline is expected to receive at least two more C919s soon.

HNA Group Co. Ltd.: HNA Group Co. Ltd.-backed Suparna Airlines expects to take delivery of its first C919 in the fourth quarter of this year, making it the first private carrier scheduled to operate the model. Suparna Airlines is also considering transitioning to an all-C919 fleet to replace its current all-Boeing fleet.

Suparna Airlines: Suparna Airlines, backed by HNA Group, expects to receive its first C919 in the fourth quarter of this year, making it the first private carrier to operate the model. The airline is considering transitioning to an all-C919 fleet to replace its current all-Boeing fleet.

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