VietJet Receives First Boeing 737 MAX
VietJet is scheduled to take delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft this weekend, marking a significant milestone nearly a decade after its initial order. According to Reuters, the handover will occur at Boeing’s Renton facility on Sunday, featuring Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong, who will address the UN General Assembly in New York two days later.
Boeing 737 MAX Details
- Length: 35.56 m (MAX 7) to 43.80 m (MAX 10)
- Height: 12.30 m
- First Flight Date: January 29, 2016
This delivery is the first of 200 737 MAX aircraft ordered by the Vietnamese low-cost carrier from Boeing. Previously operating exclusively Airbus aircraft, including over 120 A320s, A321s, and A330s, VietJet’s plan to diversify its fleet coincides with Vietnam’s broader strategy to increase strategic investments with the U.S., notably in response to ongoing tariff negotiations.
A Long-Deferred Acquisition
VietJet’s initial order for 100 737 MAX jets was signed in 2016 in the presence of then-U.S. President Barack Obama. The order was doubled at the 2018 Farnborough Air Show, planning deliveries from 2019 to 2023 to expand its fleet beyond 200 aircraft by the end of that year. Delays caused by the MAX grounding, the pandemic, and production issues resulted in postponed deliveries, providing VietJet time to adjust orders to its network expansion strategy. The carrier now expects 100 high-density MAX 8-200 variants, 20 standard MAX 8s, and 80 MAX 10s.
According to the Bangkok Post, 50 of these aircraft will go to Thai VietJet, with the first 12 frames delivered to the subsidiary. VietJet CEO Nguyen Thi Phong Thao mentioned that these jets would support network expansion from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok: “This significant order for 200 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes allows us to extend our international flight network, enhancing passenger experience with access to new destinations.”
Fleet Growth Strategy
Founded in 2011, VietJet was Vietnam’s first privately-owned airline, initially growing its fleet with the Airbus A320ceo family. More recent additions include 36 A321neos. At the Paris Air Show, VietJet ordered 150 more A321neos, aiming to operate over 200 units. On the widebody level, the airline uses A330-300s for routes to Australia and India. An order for 20 A330-900s, doubled to 40 in May, will begin deliveries next year.
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Average Age (Years) | Orders |
|---|---|---|---|
| A320-200 | 29 | 12.6 | – |
| A321-200 | 42 | 8.5 | – |
| A321neo | 36 | 3.8 | 177 |
| A330-300 | 8 | 12.7 | – |
| A330-900 | – | – | 40 |
| 737 MAX 8 | – | – | 20 |
| 737 MAX 8-200 | – | – | 100 |
| 737 MAX 10 | – | – | 80 |
| C909 | 2 | 2.7 | – |
| Total | 117 | 8.3 | 417 |
Strategic Partnerships and Tariff Negotiations
VietJet has wet-leased two Comac C909 aircraft from Chengdu Airlines for routes to Vietnam’s Con Dao islands. With China keen to secure international orders for the C909, VietJet becomes the first airline outside China to operate an ‘ABC Fleet’ consisting of Airbus, Boeing, and Comac aircraft.
The latest aircraft acquisitions are crucial as Vietnam navigates complex trade negotiations with the U.S. amidst a 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods. As Vietnam looks to stabilize its largest export market, the aviation sector, including significant investments in American-made Boeing products by VietJet and Vietnam Airlines, plays a pivotal role.
