Vietnam-based low-cost carrier VietJet is set to continue growing its international network by adding additional Airbus A330 aircraft in 2023.
The airline, which has a fleet of 81 aircraft, currently operates six Airbus A330 aircraft. However, VietJet’s shareholders approved a plan to add three more aircraft of the type during a General Meeting of Shareholders, where they voted on nine measures and approved them all.
“Regarding the business plan for 2023, the General Meeting of Shareholders aims to maintain the leading position in the market in terms of passenger volume and efficiency; reached agreements with aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, to ensure timely delivery of aircraft,” VietJet said in an update to investors.
The carrier plans to end 2023 with 87 aircraft, nine of which would be Airbus A330s, and operate 139,513 flights, carrying 25.7 million passengers. As such, the consolidated revenue plan is more than VND50.1 trillion ($2.1 billion), resulting in an after-tax profit of VND1 trillion ($42.5 million).
In Q1 2023, VietJet earned a consolidated revenue of VND12.8 trillion ($545 million), resulting in a consolidated after-tax profit of VND173 billion ($7.3 million).
VietJet has taken delivery of four aircraft, one Airbus A330 and four A321neos, so far in May 2023. Another A330, currently registered as 2-SXTF, is scheduled to join the airline’s fleet soon, according to ch-aviation.com data. None of the six aircraft were delivered to the low-cost carrier as new, having been formerly operated by AirAsia X.
In addition, the all-Airbus operator has 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. These are scheduled to join the airline in 2024, with Boeing delivering all 200 aircraft between 2024 and 2028. The airline initially ordered 100 737 MAXs in May 2016, before adding another 100 to its backlog with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2018, and firming the order in February 2019.