DALLAS — Today, China Southern Airlines (CZ) has joined China Eastern Airlines (MU) and Air China (CA) in adding the Comac C919 to its fleet. The Guangzhou-based airline has placed an order for 100 units of the COMAC C919. CZ expects the C919 to join its fleet in 2024.

China Southern Airlines boasts one of the world’s largest fleets, with over 650 airliners. Over 95% of its fleet is made of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Currently, CZ’s regional backbone is represented by the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737.

Air China recently entered into a purchase agreement with COMAC to acquire 100 C919ER narrowbody airliners. Both deals not only provide a major boost to the domestically developed aircraft, but it also follows in the footsteps of China Eastern Airlines' purchase of a similar number of aircraft six months ago.

The C919 took off for the first time in 2017, and entered service in May 2023 with MU. The airliner comes with an engine choice: both Pratt & Whitney and CFM have adapted their models to be equipped on the C919.

The COMAC 919

Battling the A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX, the C919 offers similar specifications to its competition. Despite its lower range, the aircraft fulfills the same mission as the A320neo, with a similar maximum take-off weight (MTOW) and empty weight.

So far, the aircraft has received interest and orders from the Chinese aviation market, and struggled to attract any international interest.