SHANGHAI, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Air Cambodia, the country's national flag carrier, has signed an agreement with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) to purchase 20 C909 regional jets, the Chinese planemaker said.

A C909 aircraft of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is on display during the 10th Singapore Airshow at Singapore's Changi Exhibition Centre on Feb. 4, 2026. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

The agreement, signed in Shanghai, makes Air Cambodia the first foreign flag carrier to place a bulk order for Chinese-built C909 aircraft, COMAC said.

The first batch is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026 and will enter commercial service with the airline.

Industry insiders said the new aircraft are expected to help Air Cambodia expand its route network, increase transport capacity and strengthen connectivity between Cambodia and regional markets.

Separately, COMAC and Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in aviation safety, airworthiness certification and personnel training.

The C909, formerly known as the ARJ21, seats between 78 and 97 passengers and has a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers. It is designed for operations at airports with short and narrow runways and performs well in high-temperature, high-altitude and crosswind conditions.

The C909 has expanded overseas since entering service in Indonesia in April 2023. It now operates in markets including Laos and Vietnam, serving 28 overseas cities and carrying more than 1 million passenger trips.

The jet accounts for about 70 percent of China's domestic regional jet fleet. China now has the world's largest air-travel population.

Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed that the country has added about 40 million air travelers annually over the past two years, bringing its total air-travel population to 470 million, up 160 million from 2019.