Air Cambodia is expected to receive its first two COMAC C909 regional jets in November, providing a more precise delivery schedule for an order that could substantially transform the fleet of Cambodia’s national airline.
Sin Chansereyutha, Secretary of State and spokesperson for Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), confirmed the November delivery schedule, according to the Khmer Times. The aircraft will be the first from a purchase agreement covering 20 C909s signed by Air Cambodia and COMAC in Shanghai on July 17.
When the deal was announced, COMAC said only that deliveries would begin during the second half of 2026.
As Air Data News reported in July, the agreement made Air Cambodia the first foreign flag carrier to place a large direct order for the Chinese regional jet. The commitment is particularly significant considering the airline currently operates only six aircraft: three ATR 72-600 turboprops, two Airbus A320s and one A321.
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The arrival of two C909s in November would therefore immediately increase Air Cambodia’s fleet by one-third.
The airline is Cambodia’s flag carrier but is not wholly state-owned. The Cambodian government holds a 30% stake. Vietnam Airlines owns 14%, while other shares are held by China’s Henan Airport Investment Group and Hong Kong-based 7Trip International.
Its ties with the government remain significant. Air Cambodia’s chairman, Mao Havannall, is also Cambodia’s minister responsible for civil aviation, and the government has been directly involved in establishing the framework for introducing the Chinese aircraft.
Alongside the C909 purchase, the SSCA and COMAC signed an agreement covering areas including airworthiness, operational support, maintenance and personnel training.
Small fleet, large orderbook
The 20 C909s are only one part of an unusually ambitious expansion for an airline of Air Cambodia’s current size.
The carrier also has a firm order for 10 Boeing 737-8s plus options for another 10 aircraft. Boeing and Air Cambodia publicly announced that agreement at the Singapore Airshow in February, describing the 737 MAX as a platform for expanding services across North and Southeast Asia.
The two orders potentially give Air Cambodia a future fleet substantially larger than the one it operates today, with the C909 occupying the regional segment below the 737 MAX.
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Formerly known as the ARJ21, the C909 can accommodate between 78 and 97 passengers and has a maximum range of approximately 2,000 nm (3,700 km), depending on the version and configuration.
The aircraft remains overwhelmingly concentrated in China, but COMAC has gradually expanded its presence elsewhere in Asia. Indonesia’s TransNusa became its first overseas operator in 2023, followed by Lao Airlines, while C909s have also been used on services in Vietnam.
