(Hanoi, 17th) – Vietnam’s budget airline VietJet Air will finally receive its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, nine years after signing the order. The delivery ceremony is scheduled for the 21st of this month (Sunday) at Boeing’s Seattle factory in the United States, and Vietnam’s President To Lam is expected to attend and witness the occasion.
VietJet Air signed a preliminary agreement with Boeing as early as May 2016, originally planning to receive 100 737 MAX planes between 2019 and 2023. In 2018, VietJet doubled its order to 200 aircraft. However, following two fatal 737 MAX accidents and the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery schedule was repeatedly delayed.
Insiders revealed that the plane to be delivered will be VietJet’s very first Boeing aircraft, and another one may be delivered in October. If successful, this will also mark the first time VietJet introduces Boeing jetliners into its fleet. Currently, except for two COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) regional aircraft on short-term lease, VietJet’s fleet is still dominated by Airbus.
The timing of Boeing’s delivery coincides with ongoing negotiations between the US and Vietnam regarding tariffs. In April this year, US President Trump announced a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods, and then at the end of July, announced a reduction to 20%. The Vietnamese government and VietJet Air have repeatedly stated their intention to purchase more Boeing aircraft to balance the trade surplus with the US.
In fact, prior to the tariff issue, VietJet had already signed cooperation agreements worth nearly $50 billion with Boeing and other US companies in January this year, though details were not disclosed. Vietnam Airlines has also recently stated that it is considering purchasing more Boeing aircraft, indicating that Vietnam’s aviation industry is accelerating efforts to deepen cooperation with the US.
Insiders revealed that the plane to be delivered will be VietJet’s very first Boeing aircraft, and another one may be delivered in October. If successful, this will also mark the first time VietJet introduces Boeing jetliners into its fleet. Currently, except for two COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) regional aircraft on short-term lease, VietJet’s fleet is still dominated by Airbus.
The timing of Boeing’s delivery coincides with ongoing negotiations between the US and Vietnam regarding tariffs. In April this year, US President Trump announced a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods, and then at the end of July, announced a reduction to 20%. The Vietnamese government and VietJet Air have repeatedly stated their intention to purchase more Boeing aircraft to balance the trade surplus with the US.
In fact, prior to the tariff issue, VietJet had already signed cooperation agreements worth nearly $50 billion with Boeing and other US companies in January this year, though details were not disclosed. Vietnam Airlines has also recently stated that it is considering purchasing more Boeing aircraft, indicating that Vietnam’s aviation industry is accelerating efforts to deepen cooperation with the US.