Southeast Asian airlines are consecutively introducing aircraft developed by China. As deliveries from major aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus face delays, the airlines seem to be swiftly adopting relatively inexpensive Chinese-made planes to meet the surge in travel demand.
According to a report by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), Anthony Loke, Malaysia's Minister of Transportation, recently said, "Demand for air travel is increasing in Southeast Asia, and as delays persist in the delivery of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, interest in China's C919 for passenger planes is rising in the region."
The C919 is a twin-engine (single-aisle) passenger aircraft designed and manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). It started commercial operations for the first time in 2023. COMAC currently produces two models: the 100-seat C909 and the 170-seat C919, and is also pursuing the development of the C929, a wide-body aircraft (with two aisles).
According to SCMP, current Malaysian low-cost carriers (LCC) such as AirAsia and the startup airline AirBorneo are showing interest in COMAC aircraft. Minister Loke stated, "All airlines are trying to diversify their aircraft sourcing and are seeking options that allow for faster delivery and lower costs."
Cooperation at the government level between the two countries is also one of the reasons for considering the introduction of COMAC. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Malaysia in April, the two countries' leaders have stated in a joint communiqué that "we will support Malaysian airlines in introducing and operating Chinese commercial aircraft."
Some Southeast Asian countries have already begun operating COMAC aircraft. VietJet Air, a Vietnamese low-cost carrier, introduced two C909 planes in April and deployed them on domestic routes, while Indonesian airline TransNusa and Laos's Lao Airlines are also operating the same model. As of April, the three airlines have launched services on 15 routes in Southeast Asia using the C909.
The strength of COMAC aircraft lies in their price being hundreds of millions won cheaper than Boeing and Airbus counterparts. According to various reports, the price of the C919 is approximately $100 million (about 139.5 billion won) per unit, making it cheaper than the Airbus A320 (around $111 million) and the Boeing B737-8 (approximately $121 million). It is also reported that leasing them would be possible at much lower prices through support from the Chinese government.
However, there are limits to the expansion of COMAC aircraft. The aircraft from COMAC have yet to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Moreover, among Southeast Asian countries, there is a high likelihood of purchasing Boeing aircraft due to tariff pressures from the Trump administration in the U.S. Boeing aircraft orders are also included in previously signed trade agreements between Indonesia and the U.S.
Zachary Abuza, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at the National Defense University in Washington, noted, "China is actively promoting the C919 throughout Southeast Asia," but added, "Some countries may press state-owned and private airlines to purchase Boeing aircraft as an easy way to quickly resolve their trade surplus with the U.S. and provide gifts to President Trump."