Photo Credit: Lao airlines
Thailand has celebrated the arrival of its first commercial flight featuring a Chinese-made small aircraft, with Lao Airlines’ C909 landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan Province.
Operated by Lao Airlines, the aircraft marked its inaugural flight in Thailand on Tuesday, arriving via flight QV441 from Vientiane.
“Historic Moment! C909 Aircraft Touches Down in Thailand,” the airline announced on Facebook Thursday.
This development highlights the entry of the C909, manufactured by China’s state-owned aerospace company, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), into the Thai market. COMAC is actively working to challenge the dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the competitive aviation industry.
Southeast Asia is a strategic market for China, particularly for the C919 model, which aims to rival the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 series. The Shanghai-based manufacturer has already sold C909 aircraft to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos.
Lao Airlines received its first C909 in March and has been operating it on select routes between Bangkok and Vientiane.
Photo Credit: Lao Airlines