Wang will succeed Si, who was removed from the position for serious discipline offenses, according to people familiar with the matter. He will also serve as General Manager of China Southern Airlines.

Wang, aged 58, started his career in China's civil aviation industry in 1995. He served as Chairman of Air China from October 2011 to January 2014 before he was promoted as Vice Minister, Ministry of Transport of China. Prior to that, he had been the Deputy General Manager of China Southern Air Holding, General Manager of China Southern Airlines and Deputy Chief of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).