Lao Airlines Takes Delivery of First C909 Regional Jet on Lease

Lao Airlines has taken delivery of its first C909 regional jet on dry lease from CALC, marking the airline as the second operator of the aircraft type outside mainland China. The jet, RDPL-34229 (msn 10156), was handed over to the Laotian carrier on March 30, 2025, and is scheduled to ferry from Shanghai Pudong to Vientiane on March 31, 2025. The airline has not yet disclosed when the aircraft will enter revenue service.

The C909 was certified by Lao authorities on March 18, 2025, and is configured to carry up to 90 passengers in a single-class layout. The addition of the C909 enhances Lao Airlines’ fleet, which currently includes four A320-200s, four ATR72-500s, three ATR72-600s, and one MA-60 wet-leased from Lao Skyway.

Lao Airlines becomes the second operator of the C909 outside of China, with Indonesia’s TransNusa being the only other non-Chinese carrier operating the regional jet, which was formerly known as the ARJ21-700.

This move is part of Lao Airlines’ ongoing efforts to expand and modernize its fleet, increasing its capacity to serve regional markets. With the C909’s delivery, the airline is set to strengthen its operational capabilities and enhance its competitiveness in the Southeast Asian aviation market.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com