Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet Air and US-based planemaker Boeing have agreed to a delivery schedule for 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
In a recent performance update, VietJet Air said it expects to receive its first batch of MAX planes between 2024 and 2028. The air carrier confirmed that the first 50 jets will join the fleet of its subsidiary, Thai VietJet.
“Vietjet and Boeing agreed to revise the delivery schedule of 200 aircraft between 2024 and 2028 to fit the [airline’s, ed.-] growth and recovery after Covid-19 [pandemic, ed.-],” VietJet explained.
“As planned, the first 50 aircraft will be delivered to Thai Vietjet – a Vietjet’s affiliate and one of the leading domestic airlines in Thailand. This agreement is an essential part of Vietjet’s global strategy,” the airline continued.
Under the reaffirmed contract with VietJet, which was announced during the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2022, Boeing committed to supporting the carrier with the necessary technical assistance and training. The planemaker also agreed to support technology transfer and research and development services in order to ensure that the new MAX fleet operates efficiently.
With the long-term aim of gradually expanding its international flight network, VietJet placed an initial order for 100 MAX planes, consisting of 80 Boeing MAX 10s and 20 MAX 8s, in 2016.
Three years later, in 2019, the airline decided to double the order to 200 units. However, the manufacturer temporarily stopped production of the 737 MAX in January 2020 after the type was grounded across the globe due to a malfunctioning flight control system. The issue led to two aircraft crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2019. The deal between VietJet and Boeing was paused.
As of September 12, 2022, VietJet Air operates a fleet consisting of 77 all-Airbus planes, including 18 A320-200s, 38 A321-200s, 19 A321neos, and two A330-300s, according to Planespotters.com data. Meanwhile, its subsidiary Thai VietJet flies 16 Airbus family jets – six A320-200s and six A321-200 narrow-bodies.
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