VietJetAir (VJ, Hanoi Noi Bai International) and Boeing have agreed on the delivery timeline of the first batch of the B737 Max order. Boeing will deliver the full order over five years, with the first 12 scheduled to arrive in 2024. Those twelve aircraft will go to Thai VietJetAir (VZ, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), an affiliate company founded by Vietjet.
Boeing and Vietjet say they will work together to make Viet Nam a hub for aviation services, including training, education, and maintenance. The aircraft manufacturer will provide support for the development of aviation infrastructure, improving airport operational capabilities, and flight management. Boeing will also promote Viet Nam's participation in its global supply chain for aircraft production and aviation equipment.
Carlyle Aviation Partners will provide USD550 million in financing towards the 200-strong Vietjet B737 MAX order. The deal was announced in Hanoi on September 11 to coincide with US President Joe Biden's visit to Viet Nam.
“Carlyle Aviation Partners has been a long-term strategic partner of Vietjet,” said Robert Korn, Carlyle's Co-Founder and President. “We are pleased to accompany and witness Vietjet’s aggressive growth over the last decade."
ch-aviation research shows the low-cost carrier is currently contracted to take 100 B737-8s and 100 B737-8-200s.
The order dates back to 2016 when VietJet ordered 100 MAX 10s. It added 100 more aircraft in 2019 but paused the entire order during the pandemic. In May 2022, when the Vietnamese prime minister was in Washington D.C., the dormant order was revived, and an announcement officially restarting it was made at the 2022 Farnborough Air Show.
Carlyle says this is a significant aircraft order. They say it is one of the largest commercial contracts between the two countries and contributes greatly to the balance of trade.
Editorial Comment: Corrects existing B737 MAX order numbers - 13Sep2023 - 13:09 UTC