VietJet Air, a low-cost carrier in Vietnam, is leasing two COMAC C909 aircraft from Chengdu Airlines to meet the increased travel demand during the Lunar New Year. This move comes after VietJet’s previous plan to operate Embraer E190 jets fell through due to non-compliance by the owner of the aircraft with lease contract terms. The leased COMAC jets will be used on routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Con Dao Island.
The decision to lease Chinese-made jets is not indicative of a shift towards purchasing such aircraft but rather a response to immediate operational needs. “China made a very attractive financial offer, ‘too good to resist,'” reported Orient Aviation, citing a source familiar with the matter. The Vietnamese government is reviewing regulations that currently prevent COMAC airplanes from operating in Vietnam following discussions between Vietnam’s deputy prime minister Tran Hong Ha and COMAC board director Tan Wangeng.
VietJet has signed wet lease contracts for these regional jets, which include crew provisions for operations during Tet, Vietnam’s counterpart to the Chinese New Year. The C909s are expected to service routes that have seen increased demand due to holiday travel.
Images of the two C909s have surfaced on Weibo, showing them adorned with VietJet’s logo alongside Chengdu Airlines’ livery. These planes also feature markings celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China.
While this marks VietJet’s first operation using Chinese-manufactured jets, it does not signal an impending purchase as China continues its efforts to establish itself as a major player in commercial jet manufacturing. Currently, China’s aviation industry faces challenges in selling internationally due to reliance on Western components and potential US sanctions.
Vietnam maintains complex relations with China despite historical tensions and recent military incursions into Vietnamese airspace by Chinese drones. Meanwhile, Vietnam has been strengthening ties with the United States, receiving military trainers from the US for the first time in 2024.
The leasing of these aircraft highlights VietJet’s urgent need for suitable-sized planes after its original arrangement was canceled unexpectedly.
