Asman Airlines to assist COMAC with Kyrgyz validation of C909 and C919

Image: Airports of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan’s national carrier, Asman Airlines, has initiated an evaluation into the potential acquisition of C909 and C919 regional and narrowbody jets manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The announcement was made by the airline’s parent holding, Airports of Kyrgyzstan.

A key element of the partnership will involve “cooperation in continuing airworthiness and assisting the validation process for COMAC type certificates in Kyrgyzstan, in coordination with the State Civil Aviation Agency.”

Under the agreement, the parties plan to conduct economic feasibility studies on operating the C909 (previously known as ARJ21) and C919 across Asman Airlines’ current and planned route network. Airline representatives are also scheduled to visit COMAC’s manufacturing facilities in Shanghai to observe final assembly lines and hold “substantive talks on further avenues of cooperation,” the holding noted.

Currently, Asman operates an all-turboprop fleet comprising three De Havilland Dash 8-Q400s, with delivery of a fourth aircraft delayed. Earlier this year, parent company management indicated that the carrier was considering new Russian-built models. However, with the Il-114-300, SJ-100, and MC-21-310 programs facing persistent timeline shifts, these aircraft are unlikely to become available to foreign operators within the next seven to ten years.

As a result, expanding its mainline capacity with Western-built aircraft remains the most viable near-term scenario for Asman Airlines. The carrier has already finalized an agreement to purchase two Airbus A321ceos, with plans to scale its A321 fleet to 10 aircraft over the next five years.