AIRCRAFT - COMAC scores orders for C909

During the first day of the Zhuhai Air Show, COMAC has announced orders from two airlines for the C909.

The HNA Group has ordered 40 C909s (formerly known as the ARJ21), which it will allocate to its Urumqi Air-subsidiary. Deliveries of the aircraft is expected to take place between 2025 and 2032. Today, Urumqi Air is operating a fleet of seven Boeing B737-800s. It also expects to take delivery of up to 60 C919s, an order the HNA Group agreed to with COMAC in 2023.

Colorful Guizhou Airlines also announced an order for the C909. In total, the airline has placed a firm order for 20 aircraft, with options on another ten. No delivery timeline has been communicated by either COMAC or Colorful Guizhou Airlines. Currently, the airline is flying with ten Airbus A320neos and nine Embraer ERJ190s.

Photo by HNA Group.

Colorful Guizhou Airlines / A320 NEO / F-WWIR msn 9300

Alain Charpentier - TLS

Colorful Guizhou Airlines eyes Bombardier twinjets

Colorful Guizhou Airlines (Guiyang) is in early talks with Chinese lessor Avic Leasing concerning CRJ-900 aircraft the AirFinance Journal has reported. 

Should a deal be signed, they would be the start-up's maiden Bombardier (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) aircraft following an order with Embraer (São José dos Campos) earlier this year for seven EMB-190s and ten options. The first of the Brazilian jets is expected by year-end.

A joint-venture between Guizhou Industrial Investment Group (90%) and Weining County Construction Investment Group (10%), Colorful Guizhou Airlines is currently pursuing its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Once licensed, it plans to offer scheduled domestic passenger flights out of its Guiyang hub.

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