Vietjet takes delivery of new A321neo jet in top leader’s presence

Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet has taken delivery of a new A321neo aircraft bearing the image symbolizing the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations.

The delivery was witnessed by Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam and other senior leaders of Vietnam and France at Orly Airport in Paris during Lam’s official visit to the European country on October 6-7.

After the latest delivery, Airbus will continue to provide more aircraft to Vietjet until the end of this year to help the carrier meet passenger needs and expand its flight network, Vietjet said in a statement.

Vietjet had said in August that it would take delivery of 10 new-generation Airbus aircraft, primarily the latest A321neo ACF model from Airbus, by the end of this year amid a shortage of airplanes in Vietnam.

Vietjet has so far ordered a total of 206 aircraft with Airbus, of which 80 have been delivered.

Vietnam and France established diplomatic relations in 1973 and formed a comprehensive partnership in 2013. During Lam’s visit, the first by a Vietnamese president to France after 22 years, Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the upgrade of the two countries’ relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, on par with that of Vietnam with China, Russia, and the United States.

In 2018, Vietjet also received an A321 aircraft bearing the symbol of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France under the witness of the late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during an official visit to France at the invitation of President Macron.

Vietjet's projects in cooperation with Airbus have contributed to the formation of a training center and aviation technical services in Vietnam, providing large-scale aircraft technical services, ready for the production of aviation components and supporting technology in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president sales of the commercial aircraft business, Airbus, said: "The delivery of another A321neo is a key step in Vietjet’s ambitious fleet expansion, alongside its recent order for 20 A330neo aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow.”