Urumqi Air to Acquire 40 C909 Aircraft to Boost Regional Fleet

Urumqi Air, a low-cost subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, has announced plans to acquire 40 C909 regional aircraft, formerly known as the ARJ21-700. The acquisition, which is subject to shareholder approval, is expected to significantly enhance the airline’s regional capacity. The first deliveries of the C909s are scheduled to take place between 2025 and 2032.

Currently, Urumqi Air operates a fleet of 15 Boeing 737-800s, but the addition of the C909 aircraft will allow the carrier to expand its regional services and strengthen its presence in China’s Xinjiang region. This move aligns with China’s broader push to support domestically-produced aircraft, as the C909, a rebranded version of the ARJ21-700, is manufactured by COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China).

The C909, previously known as the ARJ21-700, was officially renamed during the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, China’s largest aviation event. The new name reflects the manufacturer’s standardized naming conventions for its aircraft, including the C919 narrowbody aircraft and the upcoming C929 widebody aircraft. The renaming was widely speculated ahead of the airshow, as the updated C909 designation had already been spotted on aircraft at Shanghai Pudong Airport in mid-October 2024.

The ARJ21-700, the predecessor to the C909, first entered service in June 2016. Since then, it has become increasingly popular with Chinese airlines, with a total of 146 units delivered to date. The aircraft is also operated by Indonesia’s TransNusa, which has added international exposure to the model. With the C909, Urumqi Air will be joining the growing list of Chinese carriers that have embraced this domestically produced aircraft, which plays a significant role in China’s domestic aviation industry.

The acquisition of the C909s is a strategic move for Urumqi Air, positioning the carrier to meet growing demand in China’s regional air travel market. The aircraft’s ability to serve shorter regional routes with enhanced fuel efficiency is expected to complement Urumqi Air’s existing fleet of Boeing 737-800s, which currently handles the airline’s main operations. By introducing the C909 into its fleet, Urumqi Air will have a more versatile range of aircraft to operate on both domestic and regional routes across China, particularly in the Xinjiang province.

COMAC, the manufacturer behind the C909, also made waves at the Zhuhai Airshow 2024 by confirming that Air China would be the launch customer for its much-anticipated C929 widebody aircraft. The C929, which is set to compete with other global aircraft models, marks another step forward in China’s ambitions to become a more prominent player in the global aviation industry.

Urumqi Air’s planned acquisition of the C909 aircraft is part of a larger effort by Chinese airlines to expand their fleets with domestically produced aircraft. As the C909 enters the market, it is expected to play a crucial role in the growth of China’s regional aviation network, while also helping to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign-made aircraft.

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