Kyrgyzstan’s Asman Airlines Considers COMAC Jets

Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned Asman Airlines is considering C909 and C919 jets from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) while pursuing separate plans to add Airbus A321 aircraft for international routes. Under the proposed cooperation, COMAC will provide technical and commercial information on the two aircraft, while the sides assess whether they would be economical to operate on Asman’s existing and planned routes. Airline representatives will also visit COMAC’s production facilities in Shanghai. The talks will also cover certification. Before Asman could operate either jet, Kyrgyzstan’s State Civil Aviation Agency is expected to help validate its type certificate, the safety approval for the aircraft design. The C909 is a regional jet seating 78 to 97 passengers, with a range of about 1,380 to 2,300 miles. COMAC says it is suited to short and narrow runways and high-altitude airports, a feature that could be useful in mountainous Kyrgyzstan. The C919 is a considerably larger single-aisle jet seating 158 to 192 passengers, with a range of about 2,530 to 3,450 miles. It competes in the same broad market as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families. Both models are already in commercial service. COMAC said in February that more than 200 C909 and C919 aircraft had been delivered in total. The C909 has also entered service with airlines in Southeast Asia. The C919’s expansion outside China has been slower. It is certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, while European certification remains incomplete. In January, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency confirmed that its pilots had conducted validation flights of the C919 in Shanghai. Asman Airlines currently operates three Canadian-built Dash 8 Q400 turboprops, each seating up to 80 passengers, primarily on domestic and short regional routes. In July, the airline resumed seasonal flights between Almaty and Issyk-Kul. Asman’s parent company, Airports of Kyrgyzstan, signed a deal with BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management in March to acquire two Airbus A321 aircraft for the carrier. The airport operator said in July that Asman plans to add eight A321s over five years, with the first two forming the initial stage. The European Commission removed all airlines certified in Kyrgyzstan from the EU Air Safety List in June, ending restrictions imposed in 2006. Removal from the list does not automatically authorize flights to the European Union; carriers still need suitable aircraft and the necessary operating approvals. Kyrgyzstan has also been restoring regional airports and domestic routes. Between 2021 and 2025, passenger traffic at the country’s airports increased by 52%, while the number of flights rose by 53%. Five airports were operating in 2021; the government said in March 2026 that all 11 were operational.