China Southern Airlines has marked a notable development in the country’s aviation landscape by appointing the first female captain assigned to operate the C919, the domestically developed passenger jet. The move signals both progress in gender representation and the continued rise of China’s home-grown aircraft programme.
The announcement was made at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), where China Southern Airlines has been gradually adding the C919 to its operations as part of a wider fleet shift. The newly appointed captain, who has previously flown other aircraft types throughout a lengthy career, assumed command of the jet after completing months of retraining and certification.
Her appointment is viewed as another step forward as China builds capacity to design, operate, and deploy advanced commercial aircraft for national and future international routes.
Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 forms a central part of the country’s ambition to compete in the global aircraft manufacturing market, traditionally dominated by Boeing and Airbus. Since entering commercial service in May 2023, the aircraft has been steadily proving its reliability and performance. Major state carriers including China Southern, Air China and China Eastern, have increased utilisation, integrating the C919 more deeply into domestic networks.
Alongside introducing new aircraft, China Southern Airlines is expanding retraining programmes to ensure enough pilots are qualified to fly the C919. These programmes are coordinated with COMAC and regulatory authorities to create a unified training pathway. The process covers technical knowledge, simulations and in-service adaptation so pilots are ready to manage the aircraft safely and efficiently.
The need for additional pilots is growing rapidly. China Southern, Air China and China Eastern have each committed to acquiring at least 100 C919 aircraft, with deliveries stretching into the 2030s. As more jets arrive, airlines require additional captains, trainers and examiners, pushing recruitment and qualification plans across the sector.
While the appointment of the first female captain has attracted attention, it sits within broader national efforts to widen opportunities for women in aviation. China trained its first group of 14 female pilots in 1951, primarily for military roles. Numbers have risen gradually over the decades, yet women still account for less than two percent of civil aviation pilots in the country. As of 2024, there were 941 female pilots working in commercial and private aviation.
Industry observers say the latest development highlights growing recognition of women’s contributions at senior operational levels. Placing a woman at the controls of China’s flagship aircraft programme is seen as an important symbolic and practical step, reflecting a shift towards more inclusive pathways in aviation.
The C919 continues to play a strategic role in China’s aviation strategy, supporting ambitions to reduce dependence on imported aircraft and create a competitive domestic alternative. As deliveries expand and training pipelines grow, the aircraft is expected to become increasingly visible across the country’s airline networks.
The appointment also arrives at a time when China is seeking to strengthen its aerospace capabilities, deepen pilot training expertise and encourage more women to pursue technical and aviation careers.
With more C919 aircraft scheduled to enter service and additional training programmes underway, China’s airlines are preparing for a future where domestic aircraft form a much larger share of their fleets and where more women are present in the cockpit.
