Malaysia’s low-cost airline AirAsia has expressed keen interest in acquiring China’s C919 passenger jet as part of its broader strategy to tap into Southeast Asia’s population of over 700 million and strengthen China-Asean economic ties.
During the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A—AirAsia’s parent company—revealed that negotiations are ongoing for the purchase of the C919. He also noted that AirAsia is the first foreign airline to collaborate with Comac, the Chinese state-owned aircraft manufacturer, on a deal involving the aircraft.
Fernandes did not specify the size of the potential order, pricing details, or other specifics. The C919, designed to compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320 series, seats up to 192 passengers and has a range of approximately 5,555 kilometers. Interest in this single-aisle aircraft has grown in tandem with increasing flight connectivity and economic cooperation within and between China and the ASEAN region.
Current data from China’s civil aviation authority shows that there are 2,552 weekly scheduled passenger flights between China and ASEAN countries, marking an 8.3% increase from the previous year. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke previously indicated that both AirAsia and the newer carrier Air Borneo are considering investing in the C919 amid rising regional travel demand and backlog issues at Airbus and Boeing.
The C919, which debuted commercially in May 2023, has already flown more than 1.5 million passengers. While Chinese state airlines like Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern operate fleets of 18 aircraft and have placed hundreds of additional orders, the aircraft has yet to secure international orders outside China.
As part of its plans to expand beyond the domestic Chinese market, Comac aims to have the C919 operating on commercial routes within Southeast Asia by 2026, according to a report by Chinese media outlet Jiemian, citing Yang Yang, Comac’s deputy general manager of marketing and sales.
Fernandes added that ASEAN’s integrated markets, akin to the European Union, are now easier to trade within — with common legislation, free trade zones, and open movement of people benefiting airlines like AirAsia.
Korthong Thongtham Na Ayutthaya, acting director of a division within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, mentioned that China has approached Thailand regarding potential aircraft purchases, though discussions are only in the initial stages.