Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is intensifying its engagement with China as it considers purchasing Chinese-made aircraft to support its expansion in the world’s second-largest aviation market. MAG Group Managing Director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail confirmed the possibility in an exclusive interview with China Daily.
Confirming Malaysian Airlines’ Penchant for Chinese jets
MAG’s confirmation that it is evaluating Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) jets — including the C909, C919, and potentially the future C929 — as part of its long-term fleet strategy.
MAG’s intention of adding Chinese built COMAC aircraft in its fleet aims to support MAG’s broader network growth in China and bolster its aspiration to rank among the top 10 global airlines by 2030- after all, Ismail said that MAG had already rebuilt its China capacity to approximately 70 percent of its pre‑COVID level:
“By 2026, as part of our network growth plan that focuses predominantly on China, we hope and are targeting to resume at least to the pre-pandemic level……We know we are a bit side end, but we have huge ambitions, and China is really a market Malaysia Airlines should focus on”
The airline plans to ramp up service further: from January 9, 2026, Malaysia Airlines will resume the Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu route, raising its weekly flights to around 60. The group is also exploring secondary Chinese cities such as Shenzhen and other tier‑two markets.
MAG is placing COMAC aircraft on its radar because of their potential cost‑competitiveness and alignment with its expansion plans.
However, this is not the first time Malaysia Aviation Group has expressed interest in COMAC aircraft. Just last month, Captain Izham Ismail told Yicai that the group was evaluating aircraft capable of supporting its long-term growth, with COMAC among the manufacturers under consideration.
The evaluation forms part of the airline’s fleet planning through 2040, with discussions with COMAC having started last year and becoming more detailed during the second quarter of this year. Malaysia Airlines is continuing to assess the Comac C919 based on factors including innovation, safety, airworthiness certification, operational feasibility and, ultimately, its commercial value.
Which COMAC jets is Malaysia considering?
MAG is in discussions with COMAC about three aircraft:
- the smaller C909
- the narrow‑body C919
- the future wide‑body C929
Ismail expressed strong interest in the C919, calling it “very competitive” whilst also noting that the C909 may be too small for MAG’s long-haul aspirations, though C909 has already entered markets Laos, Indonesia, and Vietnam. A senior executive from Malaysia Airlines Group was quoted earlier this year in Asian Fin as having said that the carrier’s “operations at Subang International Airport are well-suited for the smaller aircraft produced by COMAC”
The development of the C929 remains several years away, Ismail noted, but he did not rule out the aircraft becoming a viable option for Malaysia Aviation Group in the next decade. He pointed out that the group’s larger aircraft will begin to age by around 2031, potentially creating an opportunity for the C929 if COMAC has secured international certification by then.
Ismail also indicated that the C919 remains of interest, while suggesting that the C929 could become a more relevant option as the fleet replacement cycle approaches.
Why is Malaysia Inching Towards Chinese Jets?
In May this year, China Daily had reported that Malaysian had acquired the following aircraft as a part of its narrowbody fleet renewal:
- 18 Boeing 737-8 aircraft
- 2 Boeing 737-10
The same publication had said that the carrier was looking for a fleet “of 55 Boeing 737-8 and 737-10 aircraft by 2030.” and aiming to “gradually phase out the older generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft”. The carrier has 40 Boeing 737-800s that average 13 years.
According to Ismail, China’s economic momentum is likely to remain strong over the next decade, creating an opportunity for Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) to participate in the country’s continued growth. He said he was impressed by China’s economic progress over the past 10 years and expressed hopes that the Chinese market would welcome Malaysia Airlines as it seeks to contribute to that growth story.
Ismail also stressed that MAG’s aircraft strategy is not simply about adding capacity. The group is looking for aircraft that make commercial sense over the long term, with factors such as innovation, cost efficiency and operational viability playing an important role in its decision-making.
Moreover, MAG’s China traffic is recovering rapidly: beyond reinstating major routes, it is tapping into second-tier cities and projecting strong demand in those markets., and COMAC’s numbers might offer just that. The C919 (entered commercial service on May 28, 2023) operated by China Eastern Airlines, which is one of the busiest carriers in the nation, already has the following impressive numbers:
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More than 15,200 commercial flights.
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Total flight hours logged exceed 37,200 hours of safe and efficient operation.
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Over 2.1 million passengers have been transported as of September 19.
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Average seat occupancy rate is over 85%.
As of the end of January, the C909 series has transported over 19 million passengers and accumulated 580,000 hours of safe flight across 644 domestic and international routes. Since its maiden commercial flight on June 28, 2016, a total of 160 C909 aircraft have been delivered.
Regulatory and Certification Challenges of C919 that Malaysian will Have to Look Into
One of the biggest questions facing MAG’s COMAC evaluation is regulatory approval. The COMAC C919 holds certification from China’s Civil Aviation Administration but lacks approval from several international regulators.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), for instance, has stated that certifying the C919 will likely take three to six years, reported Flight Global:
“Speaking exclusively to the French economics publication L’Usine Nouvelle, European Union Aviation Safety Agency executive director Florian Guillermet stated that the regulator had informed Comac that the jet “will not be able” to be certified this year. Guillermet, who took on the role of EASA chief a year ago, told the publication that certification should be achieved “within three to six years”. Comac has previously indicated that it would seek approval for the C919 in Europe.”
This long timeline of EASA certification could defer MAG’s ability to use the aircraft on many international routes. In Chinese routes, however, the C919 was deployed in as many as 122 flights for one particular route in February alone.
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