Air Cambodia to purchase 20 COMAC C909 aircraft

Air Cambodia has signed a contract to purchase 20 COMAC C909 aircraft, scheduled for July 2026. This deal is part of a growing trend of Chinese-made COMAC C909 aircraft entering Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia and Brunei.

The C909 is a short-to-medium range regional jet designed to carry between 78 and 95 passengers. Despite being marketed as a product with independent intellectual property, the aircraft relies heavily on a global supply chain. Approximately 85% of its components are imported, with American suppliers accounting for about 60% of these parts.

Key technical contributors include General Electric (USA) for engines, Collins Aerospace (USA) for avionics, Honeywell (USA) for flight controls, Liebherr Aerospace (France) for landing gear, and Antonov's design bureau (Ukraine) for aerodynamic features. This high level of dependence on Western technology presents a potential risk to production should export restrictions or sanctions be imposed.