Vietnam Airlines to spend $8.1 bln on 50 Boeing narrow-body jets

Vietnam Airlines on Wednesday signed an agreement to buy 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft worth about $8.1 billion, as the national flag carrier steps up fleet expansion to meet rising travel demand.

The signing took place in Washington D.C., with the witness of Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam during his visit to the United States to attend the opening session of the Gaza Board of Peace, scheduled for February 18-20.

Vietnam Airlines said it expects to take delivery of the jets between 2030 and 2032, lifting its fleet to around 151 aircraft by 2030. The carrier plans to prioritize narrow-body planes to increase flight frequency, operational flexibility, and cost efficiency.

The move is part of a broader strategy to modernize the fleet and enhance competitiveness in the next growth phase, the airline said.

The Boeing 737-8 aircraft will be deployed on domestic and Asian regional routes, targeting sustained double-digit annual growth over the next five years. Vietnam Airlines expects to carry about 168 million passengers and transport more than 2.25 million tons of cargo over that period.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, chairman of Vietnam Airlines, said the carrier is preparing comprehensively for a new aviation growth cycle, from fleet planning and financial capacity to high-quality workforce development.

Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said Boeing was proud to deepen its partnership with Vietnam Airlines by combining 737 MAX aircraft with the 787 Dreamliner to expand regional networks and strengthen connectivity across Asia.

The operating performance, economic efficiency, and passenger experience of the 737-8 make it an ideal aircraft to support Vietnam Airlines’s growth strategy, she added.

Following the signing, Vietnam Airlines said it would continue reviewing options to add wide-body aircraft as it works towards its strategic targets through 2030, with a longer-term vision to 2045–2050.

Later on the same day, Party chief To Lam witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperation agreements between Vietnam and the United States with a combined value of $37.2 billion, covering areas including technology, digital transformation, aviation and healthcare.

Among the deals, Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology granted a licence to Starlink Services Vietnam to provide satellite-based fixed telecommunications services.

In aviation, Sun Phu Quoc Airways signed an agreement to purchase 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets from Boeing.

Vietjet signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney, a unit of RTX Corporation, to select engines and maintenance services for 44 A321NEO and A321XLR aircraft. It also reached a financing agreement with Griffin Global Asset Management for six Boeing 737-8 jets.

In healthcare, Tam Anh General Hospital signed a contract with Mevion Medical Systems to acquire a Mevion S250-FIT proton therapy system, one of the most advanced proton cancer treatment technologies in the United States.