KUALA LUMPUR– AirAsia (AK) has expressed strong interest in purchasing the COMAC C919, the Chinese-built passenger aircraft, as part of its long-term growth strategy in Southeast Asia.
The move signals a deeper focus on expanding regional connectivity between Malaysia (KUL) and China (PEK), two of the fastest-growing aviation markets.
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A – the parent company of AirAsia – confirmed during the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong (HKG) that the airline is in active talks with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) over a potential order.
If finalized, AirAsia would become the first foreign airline to secure the Chinese-made single-aisle jet.
Photo: By N509FZ – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127030905AirAsia Eyes COMAC C919
The COMAC C919, designed to compete directly with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families, can seat up to 192 passengers and has a range of about 5,555 kilometers. This makes it well-suited for the short- to medium-haul routes that dominate Southeast Asia’s air travel network.
AirAsia’s interest in the aircraft comes at a time when air travel demand in the ASEAN bloc is rising sharply.
According to China’s civil aviation regulator, there are now 2,552 scheduled passenger flights per week between China and ASEAN countries, an 8.3 percent increase from the previous year.
This surge in travel aligns with AirAsia’s focus on serving Southeast Asia’s 700 million-strong population and tapping into expanding business ties with China.
Boeing_787_Dreamliner_with_Airbus_A380photo- Niklitov
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Growing Pressure on Airbus and Boeing
One of the key drivers behind AirAsia’s move is the backlog faced by established manufacturers Airbus (A320) and Boeing (737).
Airlines across the globe are struggling with delivery delays, creating an opening for COMAC to present the C919 as a viable alternative.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke has previously noted that both AirAsia (AK) and new carrier Air Borneo are evaluating the C919, citing the region’s growing travel demand and limited aircraft supply from traditional manufacturers, SCMP reported.
Photo: X UserCOMAC’s Regional Push
The C919 made its commercial debut in May 2023 and has since carried more than 1.5 million passengers.
So far, it operates exclusively with Chinese state-owned airlines – Air China (CA), China Eastern Airlines (MU), and China Southern Airlines (CZ) – which together fly 18 aircraft and have placed hundreds of additional orders.
While no international airline has yet placed an order, COMAC is positioning the C919 to expand beyond China.
Reports suggest that the jet could begin operating commercial routes to Southeast Asia by 2026. Such a milestone would represent the aircraft’s first step into the global aviation market.
Photo: Melvin Loi | FlickrAirAsia’s Regional Strategy
Tony Fernandes emphasized that ASEAN is increasingly functioning like a unified bloc, similar to the European Union, with freer movement of goods, services, and people.
This evolving environment benefits low-cost carriers like AirAsia (AK), which thrive on connecting secondary cities across borders.
AirAsia’s potential partnership with COMAC also reflects its ambition to diversify its fleet, reduce dependency on Western manufacturers, and strengthen ties with China’s aviation sector.
Photo: AirAsiaInterest Beyond Malaysia
The Belt and Road Summit also revealed that China has approached Thailand (BKK) about purchasing the C919.
While discussions remain at an early stage, Thai officials acknowledged exploratory talks about integrating the Chinese-built aircraft into the country’s aviation landscape.
If airlines in both Malaysia and Thailand move forward with C919 acquisitions, Southeast Asia could become the first overseas market for the aircraft, further anchoring China’s role in shaping regional aviation.
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