COMAC, China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer, has a huge backlog of orders for the C919 from domestic airlines, but has already gone out into the field to seek deals abroad.
The three main Chinese carriers alone have ordered 306 of the model’s jets, of which only 14 had been delivered by December.
While still struggling to speed up production at its assembly line in Shanghai, COMAC is already planning to add orders from foreign airlines.
Representatives of the planemaker are reportedly in talks with potential customers in countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia and Kazakhstan, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Follow Air Data News: WhatsApp | Google News | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
The most significant airline is said to be Garuda, which is owned by the state of Indonesia and is in deficit. Its fleet of single-aisle jets is old and consists of 43 Boeing 737-800s with an average age of almost 13 years.
Although it is negotiating a deal with Boeing and Airbus, the waiting list for the 737 MAX and the A320neo would be an opportunity for COMAC to fill this niche.
It is no coincidence that COMAC’s only foreign customer is TransNusa, a small Indonesian airline that flies a few C909s (formerly ARJ21s).
In Cambodia, the airline being approached is Angkor Air, which flies only three old Airbus jets. SCAT Airlines, from Kazakhstan, has reportedly spoken to COMAC, which has a significant fleet of 737 MAXs.
Possible customer in Brazil
In addition to these companies, some Asian carriers are openly talking about evaluating an order for the C919, including Vietnam Airlines, whose CEO stated in November that the Chinese aircraft could be ordered if it obtains its type certificate outside of China.
VietJet recently closed a wet lease for two C909s with Chengdu Airlines and will provide ACMI services starting in January 2025.
Another airline considering the C919 is Malaysian AirAsia. The low-cost carrier has admitted to talking to Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and also COMAC.
And there is even a potential customer for the aircraft in Brazil, Embraer’s home country. The small airline Total Linhas Aereas has told the local press that it is negotiating a deal for four C919, despite the aircraft not yet being approved for flights in the country.
