China’s domestically developed C909 passenger jet has officially entered commercial service in Vietnam, marking another step in its expansion throughout Southeast Asia, as announced by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC).
According to COMAC, two C909 aircraft leased from Chengdu Airlines have started operations with Vietjet Air on the Hanoi–Con Dao–Ho Chi Minh City route as of Saturday.
The lease is a “wet lease” agreement, a standard global arrangement where the lessor provides not only the aircraft but also its crew, maintenance, insurance, and operational support.
Vietjet, known as Vietnam’s first private airline, plays a major role in domestic and Asia-Pacific travel. Aviation experts believe the C909s will significantly enhance the airline’s operational capacity and contribute to the country’s aviation growth.
Previously known as the ARJ21, the C909 is a regional jetliner developed by China, with a flight range between 2,225 km and 3,700 km.
In December 2022, the C909 was first delivered to TransNusa, an Indonesian airline, followed by a delivery to Lao Airlines in March this year. Vietjet is the third international airline to incorporate the C909 into its fleet.
So far, the three international carriers have opened 15 Southeast Asian routes using the C909, collectively serving more than 250,000 passengers.
Related Posts
Cutting edge technology allows Chinese C909 to fly even higher
