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Government agrees to flag carrier’s fleet plan after financing confirmed
May 2nd 2025
Vietnam Airlines has been granted in-principle government approval to acquire 50 narrow-bodies without the need for a state guarantee, VnExpress reports. Read More » Vietnam Airlines planned to add a mix of 50 A320neo and 737 MAX jets to its fleet and purchase 10 spare engines. The estimated cost of the proposed deal was US$3.7 billion. In April, Vietnam Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Citibank for $560 million in funding for strategic projects, including the aircraft purchases. It also signed a separate MoU with Vietcombank to prepare additional capital for the acquisition. Reuters reports the carrier is close to finalizing a provisional order for 50 737 MAXs. Acquisition of the aircraft will reduce Vietnam’s large trade surplus with the U.S.; a position U.S. president Trump has said is a key factor in addressing U.S. tariffs of 46% on all Vietnamese goods exported to the U.S.
