AirAsia Reports Talks to Buy China's C919 Jet

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia, through its parent company Capital A, is in active discussions to purchase the Chinese-made C919 aircraft, potentially marking the first overseas order for the model. Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, confirmed these talks at the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, highlighting AirAsia as the first foreign airline to work with COMAC, the state-owned manufacturer of the C919. The aircraft, designed to compete with Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, has carried over 1.5 million passengers since its commercial debut in May 2023, but has yet to secure any foreign orders. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke emphasized that having foreign airlines operate the C919 would boost confidence and international recognition of its safety and reliability. The growing economic ties and increasing flight connections between China and ASEAN countries, including over 2,500 weekly scheduled passenger flights, underpin the interest in the C919 as the company aims to expand beyond China by 2026. Despite the enthusiasm, details such as order size and pricing remain undisclosed.