China Southern Airlines took delivery of two B737 MAX 8s of the 80 ordered.

Boeing announced 28 November 2017 that the two MAX for China Southern, based in Airport Guangzhou Baiyun, had flown to China. China Southern Airlines was committed in December 2015 to acquire 50 B737 MAX 8 and had added another 30 last month. Their configuration should have three classes, as does its B737-800s. The carrier received "substantial price concessions", without detailing the course.

China Southern backlog particular account, in addition to the B737 MAX, 20 B787-9s and 20 A350-900s; on medium-haul, carrier already has seven A320neos in-service of 74 expected. These new aircraft will allow for a capacity increase of 8.1% compared to its fleet in late 2016, and "will support its operations and its strategy of a dual hub" in the new airport at Beijing Daxing, set to begin operations in 2019.