China Southern's first C919 aircraft, designated B-919J, landed at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 10:15 a.m. August 29, a debut of the airlines' new jet.
For this inaugural flight, China Southern selected a team of three experienced captain instructors, with a combined flight time exceeding 35,000 hours. The airlines has chosen top talents from various departments—including flight operations, maintenance, and control—to establish a support system for the domestically produced aircraft.
China Southern is the first airlines to utilize its self-developed "Tianji" system for managing C919 flight plans. This software not only prepares flight schedules but also provides online performance calculations for take-offs and landings, enhancing precision and optimizing payload capacity.
Moreover, the "Tiantong" system, another innovative development by China Southern, serves as an aircraft health management system. It is unique in its compatibility with Boeing, Airbus, and domestically manufactured aircraft, offering real-time status monitoring, fault diagnosis, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision support. Prior to the delivery of the C919, the technical integration between China Southern and COMAC ensured that the "Tiantong" system met the required standards for domestic aircraft modules. Once testing is successfully completed, the "Tiantong" system will be used across all C919 aircraft operated by China Southern.
The C919 operated by China Southern features a three-class layout, providing a total of 164 seats: 8 in business class, 18 in premium economy class, and 138 in economy class. The spacious cabin design aims to deliver a comfortable and convenient travel experience for passengers.
Currently, China Southern has established a comprehensive support system for the C919 aircraft and has developed detailed operational plans. It is anticipated that the airlines' first C919 will complete demonstration verification and receive commercial flight operating qualifications by mid-September. The inaugural commercial route is scheduled to operate between Guangzhou and Shanghai Hongqiao on September 19.
The newly introduced C919 aircraft will be based at China Southern's main hub in Guangzhou, with flight routes extending to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi'an. As the fleet expands and operational experience grows, China Southern plans to gradually integrate the C919 into its subsidiary operations.
Reporter | Hannah
Video | Pan Jiajun
Editor | Nan, Nina, James
