China planemaker COMAC starts commercial operation in Vietnam

China planemaker COMAC starts commercial operation in Vietnam

Vietjet Air, Vietnam's leading airline, has become the first to operate Chinese-made COMAC C909 aircraft, marking a significant milestone in Vietnam's aviation industry. The airline has officially opened ticket sales for two new routes: Hanoi - Con Dao and Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao, both operated by the COMAC C909. These flights will commence on April 19, 2025 [1].

The Hanoi - Con Dao route will feature two daily flights departing at 6:45 AM and 9:15 AM, while the return route, Con Dao - Hanoi, will offer two daily flights departing at 11:35 AM and 2:05 PM. Similarly, the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route will operate with two daily flights departing at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, with the return leg, Con Dao - Ho Chi Minh City, starting on the same day with two daily flights departing at 9:20 AM and 11:50 AM.

The introduction of the COMAC C909 into Vietnam's aviation market is a result of a regulatory update. The Vietnamese government amended and issued a new decree on conditional business sectors in civil aviation, allowing aircraft certified by more countries to enter the market [1]. This decree expands the list of countries from which aircraft may be imported, now including Brazil, Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, and China.

The safety of the COMAC C909 has been thoroughly evaluated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). From January 15 to 24, 2025, the CAAV dispatched a delegation to Shanghai to assess the aircraft's technical specifications, operations, maintenance protocols, and certification process. The CAAV's evaluation found that the C909 has an excellent safety record, with no major accidents or serious incidents since it entered service [1].

In 2024, the C909 fleet averaged 5.2 flight hours per day with a dispatch reliability rate exceeding 99%. The fleet recorded around 194,000 flight hours across approximately 135,000 commercial operations, with a technical disruption rate of 3.77 per 1,000 flights and a cancellation rate of 0.97 per 1,000 flights [1].

This regulatory change is expected to enhance fleet sourcing options for Vietnamese airlines, particularly in the face of supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts. The recognition of China's design and manufacturing standards as a foundation for easing aircraft supply constraints is a significant step towards strengthening international cooperation in the aviation sector.

References:
[1] https://vietnamnet.vn/en/vietnam-s-vietjet-first-to-operate-chinese-comac-aircraft-2391761.html