BUSINESS

China’s Homegrown C909 Jet Finds New Lift in Southeast Asia With Cambodian Deal

Published: Sep. 11, 2025 4:16 a.m. GMT+8

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A Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd.’s ARJ21 aircraft during a flying display at the Singapore Airshow on Feb. 22, 2024.

China’s homegrown C909 regional jet has secured its fourth overseas customer, marking another step in Beijing’s push to expand its aviation industry across Southeast Asia.

Cambodia’s flag carrier signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday with state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC) to purchase 20 C909 aircraft. The deal includes 10 firm orders and 10 options, COMAC announced the following day.

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Cambodia’s flag carrier signed an MoU with COMAC to buy 20 C909 jets (10 firm orders, 10 options), becoming the fourth overseas customer.
As of mid-2025, COMAC delivered 166 C909s (157 in service across 12 airlines), with overseas operators in Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, and now Cambodia.
Domestically, 150 C909s operate on nearly 800 routes; foreign utilization rates exceed domestic averages, while production reached a record 35 jets in 2024.

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Who’s Who

Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC): Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC) is a state-owned Chinese aerospace manufacturer. It recently signed a deal with Air Cambodia to sell 20 C909 aircraft, marking its fourth overseas customer. COMAC is expanding its international footprint, especially in Southeast Asia, with its C909 regional jet, previously known as the ARJ21. The C909 has 166 units delivered across 12 airlines worldwide.

Henan Airport Group: Henan Airport Group is a Chinese entity that holds a significant stake in Air Cambodia, specifically a 28% ownership, making it the second-largest shareholder. The group's involvement has strengthened ties between China and Cambodia's aviation sectors, with Air Cambodia establishing its China headquarters in Zhengzhou and increasing flight frequencies between Zhengzhou and Phnom Penh.

Vietnam Airlines: Vietnam Airlines is a shareholder in Air Cambodia. Another Vietnamese airline, VietJet Air, operates two C909 aircraft, flying them on routes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and the Con Dao islands.

TransNusa Aviation: TransNusa Aviation, an Indonesian airline partly owned by China Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd., is a significant overseas customer for China's C909 jet. They operate four C909s and were the first foreign airline to use the jet on China routes, launching flights from Manado to Guangzhou in October 2024. This route is currently the longest commercial service operated by the C909.

VietJet Air: VietJet Air, a Vietnamese airline, operates two C909 aircraft, which were wet-leased in April. These planes fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and the Con Dao islands. They are among the international customers of the C909, a regional jet manufactured by China's COMAC.

Lao Airlines: Lao Airlines operates two C909 aircraft, making them one of the international customers for China's regional jet. They recorded the highest utilization of the C909s among these foreign carriers, nearing five hours per day. Lao Airlines launched commercial C909 service in April between Vientiane and Pakse. There are also reports that Lao authorities are considering a COMAC bid to take a majority stake in Lao Airlines.

China Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd.: China Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd. (CALC) is a company with a stake in TransNusa Aviation, an Indonesian airline. TransNusa Aviation is notable for being the first foreign airline to operate the C909 jet on routes to China.

Zhongtai Securities: According to analysts at Zhongtai Securities, COMAC delivered a record 35 C909 aircraft in 2024. This information highlights Zhongtai Securities' role in providing analysis and insights into the aviation industry, specifically regarding the production and delivery figures of COMAC's C909 jet.

AVIC Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group Co. Ltd.: AVIC Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group Co. Ltd. is a supplier that is increasing its production of parts for the C909, C919, and C929 aircraft. This effort aims to foster economies of scale within China's civil aviation industry.

China Flying Dragon General Aviation Co. Ltd.: China Flying Dragon General Aviation Co. Ltd. recently received the first medical evacuation variant of the C909 from COMAC. This aircraft will be instrumental in emergency rescues, long-distance patient transfers, and critical care missions, expanding the operational scope for China's inaugural domestically built regional jet.

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What Happened When

2021：: Henan Airport Group bought a 28% stake in Air Cambodia, becoming the second-largest shareholder.

2023：: Air Cambodia set up its China headquarters in Zhengzhou.

2024：: Weekly flights between Zhengzhou and Phnom Penh by Air Cambodia increased to three.

2024：: COMAC rebranded the ARJ21 as the C909 at the Zhuhai Airshow.

2024：: COMAC delivered a record 35 C909s.

By April 2024：: 88 C909 aircraft orders were still outstanding with China's 'big three' state airlines plus regional carriers.

October 2024：: TransNusa launched flights from Manado, Indonesia, to Guangzhou using the C909, becoming the first foreign airline to do so on China routes.

March 2025：: Lao Airlines took delivery of its first dry-leased C909 jet.

April 2025：: Lao Airlines launched commercial service between Vientiane and Pakse using the C909.

April 2025：: VietJet introduced two wet-leased C909s into service, flying from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and the Con Dao islands.

August 2025：: Three foreign carriers flew the C909 on 10 international and domestic routes with a combined 564 flights in August alone.

As of mid-2025：: 166 C909 planes had been delivered, with 157 in service across 12 airlines.

2025-09-08：: Cambodia's flag carrier signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase 20 C909 aircraft from COMAC.

2025-09-09：: COMAC announced the details of the deal with Air Cambodia and delivered its first medical evacuation variant of the C909 to China Flying Dragon General Aviation Co. Ltd.

AI generated, for reference only