China’s Comac Aircraft Complete Over 250 Safe Flights in Vietnam Trial, Carrying 16,000+ Passengers

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Vietnam’s skies have just completed a historic aviation trial — and the results are in. Two Chinese-made Comac aircraft, introduced through a wet-lease agreement with Vietjet Air, have successfully wrapped up a one-month pilot run, transporting over 16,000 passengers on domestic routes without a single technical incident.

Since taking off on April 19, the aircraft operated a total of 254 commercial flights on two key routes: Hanoi – Con Dao and Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao. The flights were part of a test phase to evaluate the performance of China’s emerging aviation manufacturer, Comac, under real-world conditions in Vietnam.

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Despite facing weather-related delays in the notoriously storm-prone Con Dao area, the aircraft completed the month-long trial with no safety issues. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the aircraft recorded 98 delays and 12 cancellations, mainly due to adverse weather and airspace regulations from Chinese aviation authorities.

While the delay rate may seem notable, officials say the trial was a success from a safety and service delivery perspective. “In a time of limited aircraft availability and rising domestic travel demand, introducing Comac planes offers an alternative solution to meet market needs,” a CAAV representative stated.

This marks the first time Chinese-manufactured Comac aircraft have been tested in Vietnam’s commercial aviation market. The planes were operated by Chengdu Airlines and temporarily leased by Vietjet Air to explore new capacity options.

The Ministry of Transport and the CAAV both emphasized that flight safety remains the top priority. The trial is considered a cautious, well-managed step toward evaluating Comac’s viability in Vietnam’s skies — a move that could reshape the country’s domestic fleet strategy in the future.

As Vietnam’s tourism and aviation sectors prepare for continued growth, the integration of new aircraft types like Comac could offer much-needed flexibility in a market hungry for expansion — but only if safety and reliability are proven over time.

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