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Frank Chen

China’s leading planemaker is seeking to replicate the C909 regional airliner’s success in Laos, drawing on the experience as it steps up its sales pitch in Southeast Asia – a vital step in its effort to eventually rival Boeing and Airbus.
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has ambitious plans in the region and beyond and is laying the groundwork through technical adjustments and regulatory adaptations, according to a company document seen by the South China Morning Post.
To attract more customers in developing markets for the C909 and the firm’s flagship narrowbody C919, the document outlined a series of suggestions based on its experience in Laos, emphasising flexibility and tailored solutions in operationally challenging environments.
Recommended steps included extended maintenance intervals, adaptations for hot and humid conditions, and rapid delivery of spare parts and technical support from China.
“The successful experience of the C909 in Laos offers a practical, valuable reference for Comac aircraft to enter more markets in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America,” said Su Maogeng, a chief engineer at Comac’s Customer Service Centre, in the document dated January and published in the Aviation Maintenance & Engineering journal the same month.
The C909 regional jet has become a workhorse for carriers in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. Building on that momentum, Comac is now focused on boosting sales, especially for the C919, its challenger to Boeing and Airbus’s lucrative narrowbody jets.


Lao Airlines began operating the C909 in April 2025, with Comac helping the landlocked country build ground support and maintenance capabilities from scratch.
“Laos lacked the experience, talent or inventory to support complex repairs and maintenance. The humid, tropical conditions complicated the challenge,” said Su, who led a Comac task force in the country.
In a compromise with regulators, Su’s team won approval from Lao authorities to extend the interval between “A checks” – the most frequent routine inspections to maintain airworthiness.
Lao Airlines now conducts A checks on its C909 fleet after 1,000 flight hours, 1,000 flight cycles or every six months, compared with the standard 500 flight hours, 500 flight cycles or every three months.
“The new A-check intervals significantly lower maintenance costs while allowing for training and preparing spare parts in Laos,” Su said.
To adapt to the country’s climate, Comac also recommended inspections to prevent structural corrosion and ensure the reliability of cooling and air-conditioning systems.




The company also established a rapid dispatch system for spare parts, backed by warehouses in China and activated once inventory in Laos runs low or struggles to meet unexpected demand, Su said.
The firm also introduced predictive inventory management to replenish stock for components such as tyres, which might degrade faster because of Laos’ uneven runway conditions.
Comac has set up a regional Southeast Asia team based in Singapore, alongside its representative office in Hong Kong. A company source said that mainland China’s southern aviation gateways, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, serve as crucial logistics hubs for local and regional clients.
For basic maintenance in Laos, Comac has approved a list of third-party alternative products that can be sourced locally for use on the C909, including lubricants, sealants and cleaning agents.
Jason Zheng, an analyst at the Shanghai-based aviation news website and consultancy Airwefly, said Comac’s tailored approach signalled confidence.
“The manufacturer Comac knows its jets are built to the highest standards, so some checks can be omitted when flying in a less developed country,” he said.
But he cautioned that the stakes were high for Comac, with potential buyers in Southeast Asia closely watching for operational safety and reliability.


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Lessons from Laos could help Comac boost overseas sales of C909 and C919 – but analyst says buyers will be closely watching for safety


Lessons from Laos could help Comac boost overseas sales of C909 and C919 – but analyst says buyers will be closely watching for safety.


China adapts C909 jet operations in Laos – a blueprint for Southeast Asia and beyond?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lessons from Laos could help Comac boost overseas sales of C909 and C919 – but analyst says buyers will be closely watching for safety

Lessons from Laos could help Comac boost overseas sales of C909 and C919 – but analyst says buyers will be closely watching for safety