C909 delivery achievement on its 10th Anniversary of flights

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA       Image : Vietjet Air's C909 aircraft

On 28 June 2026, COMAC announced that its domestically produced C909 commercial aircraft has been in commercial operation for 10 years, with a cumulative delivery of 186 aircraft, accounting for 70% of the domestic regional jet fleet. After ten years of operation, the C909 has grown into a mainstay model in China's regional air transport market.

The C909 project was initiated in 2002 and made its maiden flight in 2008. As a domestically developed 90-seat medium-to-short-range turbofan regional jet, the C909 mainly undertakes transportation tasks between small and medium-sized cities and to hub airports, forming a differentiated complement to mainline aircraft such as the C919.

Chen Yong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Designer of the C909 series, said, "The C909 is a regional jet that fully utilizes regional airports and secondary hub airports to build a route network, providing capacity supplementation for hub airports. From the initial design stage, we fully considered my country's complex terrain and potential future operating areas. Our design goals included excellent performance for short, narrow runways, and handling in high-altitude, cold, hot, and high-temperature environments, as well as strong resistance to crosswinds. This ensures the C909's excellent adaptability to operations in my country's central and western regions, border areas, and overseas regions such as Southeast Asia."

In 2016, the C909 entered commercial operation, officially entering the civil aviation transport market. To date, 186 C909 aircraft have been delivered to more than ten customers, accounting for 70% of the domestic regional jet fleet, carrying over 37 million passengers, operating more than 860 routes, serving more than 180 cities, and averaging over 500 flights per day.

Chen Yong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Designer of the C909 series: "There's a saying in our industry that a good aircraft is designed and manufactured, but even more importantly, it's flown. While continuously undergoing market testing, the C909 aircraft has continuously optimized and improved its design, constantly enhancing its performance, environmental adaptability, and operational efficiency."

As the C909 aircraft matures, its customer base grows, and its route network expands. TransNusa, Vietjet Air and Lao Airlines are the first three foreign operators of the C909 and regular international destinations cover Cengkareng, Con Dao, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, Pakse and Suvarnabhumi.

Yang Yang, Deputy Director of the Marketing Committee of COMAC, said, "After ten years of operation, the C909 aircraft has gradually explored five typical operating modes: 'Frontier Express', 'Regional Integration', 'International Connectivity', 'Overseas Pioneer', and 'Derivative Development'. While finding suitable operating scenarios, it has also laid a solid foundation for the development and commercial operation of large passenger aircraft.

Today, the C909 is using a dense route network to closely connect frontier regions with the interior. Passengers can board the C909 in an increasing number of small and medium-sized cities, transferring at hub airports to reach more destinations.

After ten years of commercial operation, the C909 has initially found suitable operating scenarios, building a route network based on regional or sub-hub airports, converging passengers from regional airports to hub airports, and then transporting them to their destinations via trunk aircraft.

Zhu Tao, Senior Manager of Marketing Committee, Xinjiang Airport Group, said, "Since introducing our domestically produced C909 civil aircraft, it now takes only one or two hours to reach any of the regional airports within Xinjiang."

Furthermore, under the Belt and Road Initiative, the C909 is expanding its international routes to surrounding areas, establishing an "air corridor" connecting domestic and international markets.

Huang Liying, Member of the Party Committee and Chief Accountant of Chengdu Airlines, announced, "On 7 June 2024, we successfully launched our first route to Central Asia, the Kashgar-Khujand route. On 28 April 2026, we launched the Kashgar-Osh route. We will continue to increase the frequency of short- and medium-haul international routes between Kashgar and Central Asia."