Seoul, October 25 - In a landmark move for China's burgeoning aviation sector, Brunei's aviation regulator has greenlit the operation of Chinese-made jets, delivering a significant boost to state-owned planemaker COMAC and its ambitious C919 program. Announced on October 23, 2025, the new rules permit airlines in the oil-rich sultanate to fly aircraft certified by China's Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC), paving the way for the debut of GallopAir's fleet. This Brunei COMAC approval marks the first Southeast Asian nod for the C919, China's homegrown narrow-body jet designed to challenge Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX dominance in regional skies. As global demand for fuel-efficient aircraft surges amid supply chain woes, this development underscores Beijing's strategic push for international validation of its aerospace prowess.
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At the heart of this breakthrough is GallopAir, a Brunei-focused startup airline backed by Chinese investors like Shaanxi Tianju Investment Group. In 2023, it inked a landmark $2 billion order for 30 COMAC jets, 15 ARJ21 regional workhorses seating up to 90 passengers and 15 cutting-edge C919s for longer hauls. The ARJ21, COMAC's first jet-powered success story entering service in 2016, has already found footholds in neighboring markets like Indonesia's TransNusa and Vietnam's Vietjet, proving reliable for short-hop routes across ASEAN. Now, with regulatory hurdles cleared, GallopAir eyes a year-end launch, positioning Brunei as a gateway for China-made jets in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area. This C919 Brunei entry could accelerate deliveries, helping COMAC claw back from earlier production delays reported in 2025.
The timing couldn't be more opportune for COMAC, whose C919 boasts advanced composite wings, CFM LEAP-1C engines, and a 158-192 seat capacity tailored for high-density Asian routes. Yet, challenges persist: without FAA or EASA certifications, processes estimated at three to six years, the jet remains confined mostly to Chinese carriers like China Eastern, which pioneered its commercial flights in 2023. GallopAir's order represents the first non-Chinese C919 commitment, a coup for COMAC amid U.S.-China trade tensions that have snarled aerospace supply lines. By leveraging Belt and Road ties, Beijing has seeded ARJ21s in allies like Laos and Cambodia, building operational data to woo skeptics. Brunei's endorsement signals growing ASEAN comfort with CAAC standards, potentially inspiring Thailand or the Philippines to follow suit.
As the aviation world grapples with Boeing's safety scandals and Airbus backlogs, COMAC's Brunei breakthrough injects fresh competition into the $150 billion narrow-body market. For GallopAir, it promises affordable, modern fleets to connect Brunei's underserved outposts; for COMAC, it's a vital step toward 1,000-plus orders translating into global revenue. While Western approvals loom large, this China jet approval in Brunei exemplifies how emerging markets are reshaping skies, blending innovation with geopolitical savvy to fuel the next era of air travel.
