China’s COMAC says Air Cambodia plans to buy 20 C909 jets

China’s COMAC says Air Cambodia plans to buy 20 C909 jets

China is intensifying its efforts to expand its aviation market share in Southeast Asia. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has initiated a 14-day training program for representatives from eight Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The training, which began on Monday, focuses on safety management, airworthiness certification, green development, new technologies, and domestically produced large aircraft [1].

The workshop is part of China's broader strategy to promote its home-grown civilian aircraft, particularly the C909 and C919 models. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the manufacturer behind these aircraft, aims to break the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in the Southeast Asian market. Comac has already secured orders for its C909 regional jets, which have operated in Southeast Asia for over a decade, making a total of 470,000 passenger trips [1].

While the C909 has found acceptance in the region, the C919, a larger narrowbody aircraft comparable to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, has yet to secure a market outside China. However, there is interest in the C919 from some Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia. Comac has been pursuing European Union certification and has established representative offices in Hong Kong and Singapore to intensify its marketing efforts in the region [1].

Independent aviation analyst Li Hanming warned that Comac's planes still face major hurdles outside China concerning regulation, maintenance, and training. He emphasized the importance of regulatory authorities understanding the differences between Comac aircraft and those from Boeing and Airbus [1].

With 2,552 scheduled passenger flights operating weekly between China and ASEAN countries, an increase of 8.3% over last year, the demand for regional jets in Southeast Asia is significant. Analysts suggest that Comac's aircraft are well-suited to these high-demand, lucrative intra-ASEAN routes [1].

References:
[1] https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/09/05/china-starts-aviation-training-for-southeast-asia-amid-c919-home-grown-jet-push