▶ VietJet to Receive Its First Boeing 737 MAX After Nine-Year Wait

VietJet is set to receive its first Boeing 737 MAX, an event that comes more than nine years after the airline placed its initial order, according to company and government documents. The delivery not only marks a key milestone for Vietnam’s largest private airline but also carries diplomatic significance as Hanoi seeks to reduce its trade surplus with Washington and avoid further tariffs.

A Delivery with Presidential Attendance

The official ceremony will take place this Sunday at Boeing’s factory in Seattle. In attendance will be Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, who two days later is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York alongside other world leaders, according to a preliminary agenda seen by Reuters.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Cuong will also hold bilateral meetings in the U.S., though his full itinerary has not been disclosed.

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An Order Marked by Delays

VietJet signed an initial agreement in May 2016 to purchase 100 units of the 737 MAX, with deliveries planned between 2019 and 2023. The company doubled its commitment in July 2018, but two fatal accidents involving the model and the impact of the pandemic forced delays.

In September 2023, VietJet’s Thai subsidiary announced it would receive the first 12 aircraft within months, though none have yet joined its fleet. According to the preliminary agenda, the plane to be delivered this Sunday will be the first Boeing aircraft for VietJet, whose fleet currently consists entirely of Airbus aircraft, except for two temporarily leased regional COMAC jets.

A second Boeing aircraft may be added in October, according to a source familiar with the process.

Business and Trade Strategy with U.S.

This move by VietJet must be understood within a broader commercial context. In January, the airline announced nearly $50 billion in agreements with major U.S. corporations, including Boeing, though further details were not disclosed.

Vietnam’s interest in strengthening ties with the U.S. comes against the backdrop of tariff measures. In August, the Trump administration imposed a 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods—a figure significantly lower than the 46% threatened months earlier but one that nonetheless disappointed Hanoi officials, who never formally recognized the measure as part of a bilateral agreement.

Competition and Local Market

The interest in incorporating more Boeing aircraft is not unique to VietJet. Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has also expressed its willingness to add aircraft from the U.S. manufacturer. Currently, Airbus supplies 86% of the aircraft operated by Vietnamese airlines, reflecting clear European dominance in the market.