China’s state-owned planemaker COMAC has proposed taking a stake in Laos’ government-owned Lao Airlines, which recently started operating one of COMAC‘s C909 regional jets, the state-run Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.
According to the outlet, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly on Monday that the Lao government is considering the proposal from COMAC for a “comprehensive venture” that includes COMAC holding at least a 51% stake.
The national carrier is one of four key state enterprises that are undergoing reform, the prime minister is reported to have said.
Lao Airlines and COMAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lao Airlines took delivery of a C909 at the end of March and has been flying it on domestic routes.
COMAC is developing its commercial planes to compete with dominant planemakers Airbus and Boeing.
Its narrow-body C919 flies within China only, but COMAC has placed its older and smaller C909 regional jet with airlines in Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos in a bid to break into foreign markets.
The state-owned Chinese planemaker has since the start of last year stepped up marketing to regulators and airlines as it seeks to compete internationally with rivals Airbus, Boeing and Embraer, and ramped up production its aircraft.
COMAC‘s C909, previously branded as the ARJ21, is a regional jet that seats up to 90 people and is China’s first jet-powered plane to reach commercial production. It entered service in 2016.
Reuters
