Lao Airlines Prepares for C909 Regional Jet Delivery in Q1 2025
Lao Airlines is preparing to receive its first COMAC C909 regional jet by the end of March 2025, marking a significant milestone in the flag carrier’s fleet modernization. A spokesperson confirmed the planned delivery to Reuters, following a recent visit by airline personnel to COMAC’s facilities in China for training and familiarization.
The airline teased the upcoming addition on social media, sharing a silhouette of the C909 with the caption, “A new era in Lao aviation is just around the corner.” While the exact number of C909s to be delivered has not been disclosed, the move signals growing ties between China’s aviation sector and Southeast Asian carriers.
Once delivered, Lao Airlines would become the second international operator of the C909 outside China, after Indonesia’s TransNusa, which currently operates three aircraft and has 27 more on order. The C909 is also in commercial service with eight Chinese airlines, including Air China, which operates 34 units. Vietnamese carrier VietJetAir had plans to wet-lease two C909s, but the project is still pending government approval.
Lao Airlines’ current fleet includes four Airbus A320-200s, four ATR72-500s, three ATR72-600s, and one MA-60 operated under a wet lease from Lao Skyway. The addition of the C909 would enhance the airline’s regional jet capabilities and support growth across intra-Asia routes.
Laos maintains close economic and political ties with China, which remains its largest creditor. In 2024, Bloomberg reported that China held more than half of the country’s USD 10.5 billion external debt.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com