China’s domestically made regional jet, the C909, has struggled to compete with market leaders Airbus and Boeing since it launched a decade ago. But there is one place where it is thriving: the far-western Chinese region of Xinjiang.
Chinese airlines have rolled out C909s in Xinjiang at a rapid clip over the past few years. The first C909 touched down in the region as recently as June 2023. Now, there are 30 of them being used on more than 120 routes in the remote territory, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The regional jet has become a useful low-cost option for airlines expanding in Xinjiang – a vast but sparsely populated region, where planes are often the only convenient transport method for people travelling between cities.
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With a capacity of just 78 to 97 seats, the C909 – previously known as the ARJ21 – is significantly smaller than standard narrowbody aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, which typically carry 150 to 180 passengers.
The jet’s diminutive size can be an advantage in Xinjiang, where airlines are opening up lots of new routes and flights are often lightly used, especially during low seasons.
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On low-traffic routes, the C909 is more cost-effective than larger narrowbody models, according to a report by researchers from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) – the state-owned firm that produces the C909 and C919.
The Chinese jet’s contribution margin – which refers to sales minus variable costs – is 6,000 yuan (US$890) to 10,000 yuan higher per operating hour than the Boeing 737, said the report led by Guo Caisen, a senior economist at Comac.