COMACIn Production
China's first domestically developed short- to medium-range turbofan regional airliner. The C909 is optimized for 78 to 97 seats, short and narrow runways, and demanding high-temperature or plateau operations, making it COMAC's current spearhead for regional export expansion in Southeast Asia, with growing derivative interest in medical-rescue and firefighting configurations.
Latest update Sep 18, 2026
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In scheduled service in China and Southeast Asia, with ~186 cumulative deliveries by mid-2026. Nine C909s operate in Southeast Asia through TransNusa, Lao Airlines, and Chengdu Airlines after Vietjet's initial 6-month wet-lease of two aircraft ended in October 2025; Vietjet has since returned with a bigger commitment, signing a 10-aircraft finance lease with SPDB Financial Leasing in April 2026 to fly new Vietnam-China routes itself rather than under a wet-lease. Air Cambodia's September 2025 MoU for up to 20 aircraft (10 firm + 10 options) was converted into a firm purchase agreement signed in Shanghai on July 17, 2026 - the largest C909 order outside China and the first bulk C909 purchase by a foreign flag carrier. Cambodia's civil aviation authority completed a C909 training review in mid-September 2026 ahead of the first two deliveries, still due in November 2026 (then two in 2027, three in 2028 and three in 2029) in a 93-seat 3-business / 90-economy layout. AeroRoutes schedule filings dated September 8, 2026 put Air Cambodia's C909 service debut on December 15, 2026, including Phnom Penh-Nanning, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, Haikou and Zhengzhou, plus Sihanoukville-Shenzhen and Sihanoukville-Chongqing from February 1, 2027. Shanxi Victory General Aviation signed at Singapore Airshow 2026 for up to six firefighting C909s - the variant's first dedicated order.
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Announced next steps from COMAC that mention C909.
Nov 2026
TargetNovember 2026 (first Air Cambodia deliveries); December 15, 2026 (C909 service debut); 2026-2029 (broader expansion, incl. Vietjet's 10-aircraft lease)
Air Cambodia's 10+10 C909 MoU is now a firm purchase agreement, signed in Shanghai on July 17, 2026 - the first bulk C909 order by a foreign flag carrier. In mid-September 2026 Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation completed a review of COMAC's C909 flight and maintenance training programs and signed an operational-support agreement; SSCA spokesperson Sinn Chanserey Vutha confirmed to Leeham News that the first two aircraft remain due in November 2026, then two in 2027, three in 2028 and three in 2029, in a 93-seat layout (3 business / 90 economy). AeroRoutes schedule filings dated September 8, 2026 now put Air Cambodia's C909 service debut on December 15, 2026, including Phnom Penh-Nanning (4 weekly), Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City (daily), Phnom Penh-Vientiane (2 weekly), Phnom Penh-Haikou and Phnom Penh-Zhengzhou from December 16, plus Sihanoukville-Shenzhen and Sihanoukville-Ho Chi Minh City from December 15 and Sihanoukville-Chongqing from February 1, 2027. Vietjet itself has stepped up its commitment: after its initial 2025 wet-lease of two aircraft, it signed a finance lease for 10 C909s with SPDB Financial Leasing in April 2026 - the first time it will operate the type itself rather than under a wet-lease - to back five new Vietnam-China routes, though a delivery timeline has not been disclosed.
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Air China will begin the C919's first-ever international scheduled service on August 12, flying daily between Beijing Capital and Ulaanbaatar with flight CA723 departing Beijing at 3pm and returning as CA724, using an aircraft configured for up to 158 passengers. The route marks a milestone for China's push to export its domestically developed narrow-body beyond the C909 regional jet's existing international network in Southeast Asia.
COMAC brought models of stretched (up to 210-seat) and high-altitude C919 variants to the Farnborough International Airshow for the first time, and revealed the seat map for its in-development C929 widebody, configured for 281 seats across three classes. The Chinese airframer's expanded international presence follows a recent purchase agreement for 20 C909 regional jets with Air Cambodia, as it works to broaden its narrowbody family and challenge Boeing and Airbus beyond its home market.
COMAC's C909 regional jet marked its 10th anniversary of commercial service on June 28, with 186 aircraft delivered to more than 10 customers since its 2016 entry into service. The fleet now accounts for roughly 70% of China's regional-aircraft market, has carried more than 37 million passengers across 860-plus routes, and operates over 500 flights a day. The type has also expanded onto about 25 international routes across Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.
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China's first domestically developed narrow-body single-aisle commercial airliner, designed to compete directly with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1C engines with a domestic CJ-1000A engine in flight-test on a Y-20 testbed and now expected to enter daily C919 service around 2028-2029.
COMAC's planned twin-aisle wide-body program for long-haul international and regional flying. The aircraft is aimed at the Airbus A330neo and Boeing 787 class and is now being advanced as an independent Chinese program after the earlier Russia-China partnership unraveled. Air China has signed a preliminary launch-customer agreement.
A large-cabin business-jet derivative of the C909 regional airliner, adapted with an extended-range VIP cabin for private and corporate operators - COMAC's first entry into the large-cabin business-jet market.
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