ch-aviation
• Dirk Andrei Salcedo
Mongolia is considering COMAC C919s as part of the fleet renewal of its national airline, MIAT. The interest would give the Chinese narrowbody a potential foothold in Mongolia and add another prospective customer as COMAC seeks to expand the aircraft’s international presence.
COMAC
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Mongolia is considering COMAC C919s as part of the fleet renewal of its national airline, MIAT. The interest would give the Chinese narrowbody a potential foothold in Mongolia and add another prospective customer as COMAC seeks to expand the aircraft’s international presence.
High activity
Commercial manufacturers delivered 903 aircraft in the first eight months of 2026, up 9% year over year and the strongest pace since 2018. Airbus remains confident in its full-year delivery target despite a primer-quality issue affecting about 500 A321neos, while the A350F freighter completed its first flight.
State-owned Asman Airlines is evaluating COMAC’s C909 and C919 as it builds its fleet strategy, despite an agreement to acquire two Airbus A321ceos and plans for a 10-aircraft A321 fleet. The review could give the Kyrgyz carrier an additional pathway for regional and larger-capacity operations.
Air Cambodia is preparing to introduce the COMAC C909, with its first two aircraft due in November 2026. The carrier’s remaining firm orders comprise two regional jets scheduled for delivery in 2027, three in 2028 and three in 2029.
Air Cambodia plans to introduce the COMAC C909 into commercial service in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking the carrier’s scheduled debut with the Chinese regional jet. The timing provides a defined milestone for the aircraft’s expansion among Southeast Asian operators.
Air China’s C919 flight from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar last month marked an important step for China’s domestically developed narrowbody, carrying it across an international boundary. But for COMAC, the aircraft’s broader commercial impact still hinges on increasing production rates and delivering at scale.
High activity
Beijing is testing domestic alternatives for Western-made materials and components used on the COMAC C919, seeking to reduce the airliner program’s dependence on foreign suppliers. The effort highlights supply-chain vulnerability as China works to strengthen indigenous capabilities across its commercial aircraft industry.
Air Cambodia is scheduled to receive its first two C909 regional jets in November 2026, according to the Khmer Times. The Phnom Penh-based carrier has firmly ordered 10 aircraft, with the remaining eight deliveries planned through 2029, marking a significant expansion of its regional fleet.
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