(Phnom Penh): On October 22, Mao Havannall, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) and Chairman of Air Cambodia—the national flag carrier—led a high-level delegation to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC). Dr. Zhan David, CEO of Air Cambodia, senior officials of the SSCA, and representatives from Air Cambodia’s management team joined the mission.
The visit achieved a major strategic outcome: Air Cambodia will introduce and operate the COMAC C909 aircraft beginning in the second half of 2026, marking a significant step toward national fleet modernization and enhanced competitiveness in regional aviation markets.
This cooperation is a key component of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the People’s Republic of China. It supports shared development priorities under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Lancang–Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Framework, and the Cambodia 2030 Air Transport Development Vision. It will further strengthen Cambodia’s air-connectivity expansion, trade flows, tourism recovery, and regional economic integration across the Mekong region.
Accompanied by Yu Shihai, CFO of COMAC, and Liu Yan, Deputy Director of the Marketing Center, the Cambodian delegation visited the COMAC Customer Service Center, the Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute, and the Manufacturing & Equipment Center. Productive exchanges covered aircraft certification, safety approvals, maintenance structures, and the operational readiness of the C909 for Air Cambodia.
During official talks, Mao Havannall congratulated COMAC on its progress in the global civil-aircraft industry and expressed Cambodia’s strong confidence in the COMAC aircraft family. Chairman Mr. He Dongfeng reaffirmed COMAC’s commitment to support Air Cambodia’s development and assist Cambodia in strengthening sovereign aviation capabilities, positioning the airline as a regional pioneer of the C909.
COMAC “6S” Lifecycle Support Model
To ensure continuous operational excellence, COMAC confirmed the deployment of its internationally recognized 6S Service Support Model for Air Cambodia:
- Service System — comprehensive operational & maintenance support
- Supply Support — efficient logistics and spare-parts provision
- Spare Parts — cost-optimized OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) inventory assurance
- Specialized Support — field engineers and technical advisors on-site
- Standardization Support — regulatory, documentation & QA (Quality Assurance) compliance
- Skill Support — advanced training and certification for Cambodian technicians and flight crews
This approach will accelerate MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) capability development, enhance workforce localization, and strengthen Cambodia’s long-term aviation self-reliance and safety oversight capacity.
Zhan David highlighted that the C909’s operational efficiency, range performance, and optimized cost structure align with Air Cambodia’s strategic route-development plan — particularly for links with second- and third-tier cities in China and key destinations across Southeast Asia.
This partnership builds on the 8 September 2025 Memorandum of Understanding in Zhengzhou, where Air Cambodia agreed to acquire 20 C909 aircraft (10 firm orders + 10 purchase rights), ensuring a strong commercial and regulatory foundation for future growth.
Shared Vision — Advancing Cambodia’s Aviation Future
Through this cooperation, the two countries are jointly pursuing a modern, sustainable, and connected aviation system that will:
▸ Strengthen Cambodia’s aviation sovereignty and industrial capacity
▸ Expand global passenger and cargo connectivity
▸ Boost tourism and foreign-investment inflows
▸ Create highly skilled Cambodian aviation jobs
▸ Support green-aviation practices and economic sustainability
▸ Elevate Cambodia’s regional and international civil-aviation profile
This visit marks the beginning of a new era of mutual benefit and win-win strategic cooperation in civil aviation — contributing to peace, prosperity, and shared development under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Air Cambodia remains committed to a balanced and diversified fleet strategy, maintaining cooperation not only with COMAC but also with major aircraft manufacturers from Europe and the United States, ensuring operational neutrality, safety excellence, and resilience within the global aviation ecosystem.
=FRESH NEWS
