Lao Airlines Launches COMAC C909 Service to Pakse
Lao Airlines has become the second non-Chinese carrier to begin operating the COMAC C909 regional jet, with aircraft RDPL-34229 (msn 10156) entering scheduled service on April 12, 2025. The C909, a 90-seat all-economy jet, is now flying the Vientiane to Pakse route, replacing the airline’s ATR72 turboprops.
The aircraft was delivered to Lao Airlines on March 30 through a strategic lease partnership with COMAC. This followed the issuance of a type certificate by the Laos Department of Civil Aviation on March 18, officially approving the aircraft for commercial use in the country.
Lao Airlines is now operating the C909 on 21 weekly flights between Vientiane and Pakse. Starting April 13, the jet will also serve 12 weekly flights between Vientiane and Savannakhet, replacing both ATR72s and A320-200s. This move marks a significant step in the airline’s fleet modernization and regional connectivity strategy.
The only other non-Chinese operator of COMAC aircraft so far has been Indonesia’s TransNusa, which also uses the C909.
COMAC is actively promoting the C909 to international markets, especially within Asia. In Vietnam, certification efforts are ongoing to approve the aircraft for use by local carriers. VietJetAir has expressed interest in operating the C909 on routes such as Hanoi to Con Dao. However, the lack of a Vietnamese type certificate delayed previous wet-lease plans with Chengdu Airlines during the 2025 Lunar New Year travel season.
Neither Lao Airlines nor COMAC has issued an official statement regarding the aircraft’s future deployment beyond Laos.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com