Brunei Approves Chinese COMAC Jets Boosting Southeast Asia Aviation Market

Brunei Greenlights Chinese-Made Jets, Giving COMAC a Foothold in Southeast Asia

In the high-stakes world of commercial aviation, the sky has long been dominated by two giants: Boeing and Airbus. For decades, this duopoly has dictated the market, setting the standards for aircraft manufacturing, safety, and certification. However, the landscape is gradually shifting. China, a powerhouse in global manufacturing and a massive aviation market in its own right, has been methodically working to carve out its own space with its state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

A significant step in this journey occurred on October 23, 2025, when Brunei’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) made a pivotal regulatory change. The small Southeast Asian nation officially amended its rules to recognize the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) as an approved foreign airworthiness authority. This decision, while seemingly a minor administrative update, carries substantial weight. It effectively opens Brunei’s skies to Chinese-manufactured aircraft, providing COMAC with a crucial validation outside its home turf and signaling a potential shift in regional aviation dynamics.

This development is not just about one country’s regulatory update; it’s a clear indicator of China’s broader strategy to establish a parallel aviation ecosystem. By securing approvals from foreign regulators, China aims to build international confidence in its aircraft, particularly the C919 narrow-body jet, designed to compete directly with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Brunei’s move serves as a key building block in this long-term ambition, potentially influencing other nations to follow suit.

The GallopAir Catalyst: A US$2 Billion Bet on COMAC

The primary driver behind Brunei’s regulatory shift is GallopAir, a new Brunei-based airline with significant backing from Chinese investors, including the Shaanxi Tianju Investment Group. GallopAir’s business model is intrinsically linked to COMAC’s success, as the startup has placed a massive US$2 billion order for 30 Chinese-made aircraft. This landmark deal, signed in September 2023, includes 15 C909 regional jets (formerly known as the ARJ21) and 15 C919 narrow-body airliners.

This order is particularly noteworthy because it marks the first international purchase of the C919, COMAC’s flagship aircraft. Until this point, the C919, which had its first commercial flight in May 2023, had only been operated by Chinese airlines. GallopAir’s commitment represents a vote of confidence and provides COMAC with a vital international case study. The airline’s strategy is to enhance connectivity within the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), a region with growing demand for air travel.

Before Brunei’s recent policy change, its aviation regulations only recognized certifications from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Brazil, which would have prevented GallopAir from operating its fleet of COMAC jets. The amendment to include the CAAC was therefore a necessary and direct facilitator of the airline’s operational plans. This symbiotic relationship between a new, ambitious airline and a planemaker seeking global reach illustrates a key part of China’s strategy: leveraging strategic international partnerships to expand its aviation footprint.

The US$2 billion deal between GallopAir and COMAC is the first international order for the C919, a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

The Global Chessboard: COMAC’s Ambitions and Hurdles

Brunei’s approval is a strategic victory for COMAC, but it’s just one move in a much larger and more complex game. The ultimate goal for China is to position COMAC as a viable third player in the global commercial aircraft market, breaking the long-standing Boeing-Airbus duopoly. This “triopoly” is something both Western manufacturers have acknowledged as a long-term possibility. China is employing a multi-pronged approach to achieve this, starting with its vast domestic market to build operational history and credibility for its aircraft.

The next phase involves using state-backed diplomacy and financing to open overseas markets, particularly in developing nations and countries politically aligned with China. Brunei’s decision, along with a similar move by Vietnam to add the CAAC to its list of approved regulators, suggests this strategy is gaining traction. Each foreign regulatory approval helps build a case for wider acceptance and chips away at the perception that COMAC aircraft are only suitable for the protected Chinese market.

p>Despite this progress, significant hurdles remain. The most formidable barrier is the lack of type certification from the U.S. FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These certifications are the gold standard in the industry and are essential for accessing Western markets. The EASA has indicated that the certification process for the C919 could take several more years, potentially pushing any approval to 2028 or beyond. Furthermore, COMAC remains reliant on Western suppliers for critical components like engines and avionics and must build a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network to support international airlines.

Conclusion: A New Player on the Tarmac

Brunei’s decision to allow the operation of Chinese-made jets is more than a local regulatory update; it is a calculated step that provides COMAC with a crucial international platform. By facilitating GallopAir’s multi-billion-dollar order, Brunei has become an important early adopter of China’s aviation technology, setting a precedent that other nations in the region and beyond may watch closely. This development is a clear win for COMAC, validating its aircraft outside of China and supporting its ambition to become a global aviation player.

However, the path to disrupting the established duopoly is long and fraught with challenges. While COMAC has secured a foothold in Southeast Asia, the lack of FAA and EASA certification remains a major obstacle to widespread international adoption. The true test will be whether COMAC can build a comprehensive global support network and convince major international airlines of its long-term value and reliability. For now, the industry is watching to see if this small step in Brunei will translate into a giant leap for China’s aviation aspirations.

FAQ

Question: What is COMAC?
Answer: The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is a state-owned Chinese aerospace manufacturer established to design and build large passenger aircraft, reducing China’s dependency on Boeing and Airbus.

Question: Why is Brunei’s approval of COMAC jets significant?
Answer: It marks a key international validation for COMAC’s aircraft. It allows a non-Chinese airline, GallopAir, to operate a fleet of C919 and C909 jets, providing COMAC with its first international C919 customer and a strategic foothold in the Southeast Asian market.

Question: What are the main challenges COMAC still faces?
Answer: COMAC’s biggest challenges are securing type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which are required to operate in most Western markets. The company also needs to build a global maintenance and support network and reduce its reliance on Western-made components for its aircraft.

Sources

• Reuters