Vietnam Airlines To Order Aircraft

Vietnam Airlines will continue to invest in its future with the planned acquisition of more next-generation aircraft.

As part of the latest comments, the airline is expected not only to move ahead with its acquisition of 737 MAX jets to enhance its single-aisle fleet but also to explore other opportunities.

The 737 MAX jets, which are expected to arrive over the next five years and beyond, will represent one of the many investments to take shape as the company looks to build for the future.

Focus also rests on the development of its international network. Current fleet data indicate that aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 dominate these routes.

However, as demand continues to increase and the need to meet this demand becomes higher, the flag carrier believes that developing its wide-body fleet will be pivotal.

As a result, discussions are already underway internally to determine the best course of action, with possible options including not only purchasing jets directly from manufacturers but also exploring the leasing market.

The drive for growth also focuses on the need to renew some of its existing fleet as leases on jets expire; however, it also comes from the pure necessity of growth.

Vietnam Airlines Retires Aircraft

Vietnam Airlines is also continuing to move ahead with its fleet renewal efforts, as older aircraft are being replaced with next-generation jets.

The flag-carrier of Vietnam confirmed that it had already sold five Airbus A321ceo aircraft in 2024, and once 2025 concludes, that figure will be doubled.

Vietnam Airlines is thus forecasting the axing of 12 more aircraft from its fleet, with an even split between the A321ceo and ATR72s, some of these planes having already departed.

The company now has 62 Airbus A321 family jets in its fleet, 42 of which are A321-200s, averaging 13.2 years in age. Although this is not old by comparison to other operators, the introduction of A321neos will require a greater reliance on them.

Unfortunately, the A321neo has been front and centre of aircraft groundings across recent years, with the Pratt & Whitney engine crisis leaving more of the new engine options with the carrier on the ground rather than in the air.

For the airline’s widebody fleet, which comprises 14 A350s and 17 787s, there needs to be at least 50 more within the next ten years, given that it currently has just over 30 widebodies delivered.