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AirAsia in “active discussions” to order COMAC C919s
September 12th 2025
The AirAsia group is interested in acquiring COMAC C919s, Capital A CEO, Tony Fernandes, said at the Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong this week. Read More » Capital A is the parent of the airline company. “We are in active discussions to buy the C919. We are the first foreign airline to be working with COMAC,” he said, and added an order for the type could grow China-ASEAN business ties. “ASEAN is becoming like the European Union where it is easier to trade with common legislation, free trade zones and move people around,” Fernandes said. The Capital A boss has long been positive about a potential C919 order. In 2017, Bloomberg TV asked Fernandes, then AirAsia CEO, if the LCC could place an order with COMAC. He said: “I think as an airline you have to look at everything. We will be foolish not to look at new planes.” Recently, Malaysia’s transport minister, Anthony Loke, said AirAsia and new airline, Air Borneo, were considering orders for the C919. Fast increasing air travel across the region and production backlogs at Airbus and Boeing are seen as drivers of a possible COMAC commitment. The C919, which made its commercial debut in May 2023, is operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. To date, no foreign carrier has ordered the type.
