COMAC Positions Its C909 Business-Jet Variant: Confirmed Facts and Areas Still Unverified

Sources: COMAC, Caixin finance media, Xinhua, Brunei DCA
AeroMorning – December 2025

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is advancing the promotion of a business-jet derivative of its C909 regional aircraft, signalling the manufacturer’s ambition to expand into a new market segment. While several elements of the programme are confirmed by official and reliable sources, other technical details currently discussed in the aviation press remain only partially verified.

Confirmed Information from Official Sources

Rebranding and Platform Status
COMAC officially rebranded the ARJ21 family as the C909, a change reflected in the company’s public communications and product documentation. The aircraft continues to operate as a regional jet, with deliveries recorded in 2025.

Multi-Role Acceptance Including the Business-Jet Variant
In October 2025, the Department of Civil Aviation of Brunei granted airworthiness acceptance covering multiple C909 variants, including passenger, freighter, medical and business-jet configurations. This decision confirms that COMAC is formally presenting a business-jet derivative to foreign authorities.

Presentations at International Airshows
The C909 and its derivative concepts were showcased at major industry events, including the Dubai Airshow 2025, where COMAC highlighted the platform’s flexibility for VIP and special-mission applications.

Credible but Non-Officially Confirmed Characteristics

Although COMAC acknowledges the existence of the C909 business-jet concept, several technical aspects remain unconfirmed by the manufacturer at this stage.

Cabin Size and Passenger Capacity
Based on airshow observations, the C909 “CBJ” appears to be a large-cabin business jet, with interior layouts reportedly ranging from 12 to 29 seats, depending on configuration. These figures have not yet been published in official COMAC specifications.

Interior Layout Concepts
Mock-up interpretations suggest the possibility of configurations featuring six couches, VIP suites, meeting rooms, multiple lavatories, and dedicated lounge areas. These layouts remain indicative rather than confirmed.

Range Estimates
Publicly available data for the regional C909/ARJ21 variants indicate ranges between 2,200 and 3,700 km, depending on the model. No official performance figures have been released for the business-jet version.

Conclusion

COMAC is clearly positioning a C909 business-jet derivative within its broader aircraft family, supported by credible regulatory milestones and official appearances at major airshows. The concept exists and is being actively promoted for export markets — including markets where the type has already received airworthiness acceptance, such as Brunei.

However, detailed specifications — including cabin volume, interior arrangements, and performance metrics — should, at this stage, be considered preliminary and unconfirmed until COMAC publishes dedicated technical documentation.