Lao Airlines receives its first COMAC C909, becoming the second international operator of the aircraft
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has delivered the first C909 to Lao Airlines, making it the second airline outside China to introduce the aircraft into its fleet.
The aircraft, registered as RDPL-34229, is configured with 90 economy-class seats and features internal and external signage in the Lao language. It also boasts a customized exterior design that includes Laos' national flower—the Champa— printed on the tail and winglets. The aircraft was delivered under a leasing agreement between COMAC and the Laotian state-owned carrier.
It will join Lao Airlines’ existing fleet of four ATR 72-500s, three ATR 72-700s, and five Airbus A320s, which operate a regional network that includes five destinations in Vietnam, seven in China, two in Thailand, and Seoul, South Korea.
The C909 in Laos
On March 18, 2025, the Laos Civil Aviation Authority issued a Type Acceptance Certificate (ATC) for the C909, authorizing its operation within the country. According to local authorities, commercial flights are expected to begin on April 12, with route and schedule details to be released once operational preparations are finalized.
The C909 is a regional jet powered by General Electric CF-34 engines, developed independently in China. It has an operational range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers, making it suitable for both domestic and international routes across Laos and neighboring countries. According to the manufacturer, the aircraft performs well in high-temperature conditions and at short-runway airports—common in Southeast Asia.
To date, more than 150 units of the model have been delivered. The C909 currently operates 645 routes, connects 158 cities, and has carried over 20 million passengers.
Global interest in COMAC aircraft continues to rise
Until now, Indonesia was the only country outside China operating the C909, via the airline TransNusa. In 2023, GallopAir, a startup based in Brunei, placed an order for 15 C909s and 15 C919s, marking the first international order for the C919. However, Brunei has yet to authorize operations of either aircraft.
In Africa, several governments have expressed interest in acquiring COMAC aircraft for their state-owned airlines. Among them is Equatorial Congo Airlines (ECAir), based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which resumed commercial flights in 2024 and plans to incorporate three C909s.
Interest in Chinese-manufactured aircraft is growing across the globe, coinciding with COMAC’s increasing production of the C909 and C919, in a market historically dominated by Western manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing.
According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data compiled by Aviacionline, there are currently 151 COMAC C909s operating regular passenger flights. Air China and China Southern lead with 34 aircraft each, followed by Chengdu Airlines (31), China Eastern (26), China Express (11), Genghis Khan Airlines (7), Jiangxi Air (5), and TransNusa (3).
As for the C919, only 16 units are in operation so far: 10 with China Eastern, 3 with Air China, and 3 with China Southern.
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