Vietnam Airlines has issued a preliminary request for proposals for wide-body aircraft, marking the first step in its ambition to expand its fleet.
The national carrier plans to acquire 30 Airbus A350-900 or Boeing B787-9 aircraft between 2028 and 2032. Vietnam Airlines has requested partners to submit information on aircraft quantity, type, delivery schedule, and contract value by 8/10.
The airline stated it is open to all viable lease/purchase options. If purchased outright, the investment could reach $10 billion for the 30 wide-body aircraft and engines, excluding potential bulk discounts.
Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates 102 aircraft. Its wide-body fleet comprises 31 aircraft: 14 A350-900s and 17 Boeing 787s. The narrow-body fleet consists of 65 A321s and A320s. The airline also operates six ATR-72 aircraft.
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A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-10 wide-body aircraft. Photo: VNA |
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-10 wide-body aircraft. Photo: VNA
Vietnam Airlines previously projected a need for 52 wide-body and 112 narrow-body aircraft by 2035 to meet passenger demand and expand its network. In late April, the government approved the airline's plan to invest in an additional 50 narrow-body aircraft, valued at approximately 92,800 trillion Vietnamese dong.
Dang Ngoc Hoa, chairman of Vietnam Airlines, emphasized that the additional 50 aircraft represent the minimum requirement given the high global demand for commercial aircraft. He noted that if manufacturers cannot deliver the aircraft before 2030, Vietnam Airlines may need to lease additional planes in 2027 and 2028.
The airline currently serves 21 domestic and 29 international destinations, with an average of 400 flights daily. This year, it has launched and resumed 15 international routes to key markets, including Italy, Russia, China, UAE, Japan, South Korea, and India.
However, like other domestic airlines, Vietnam Airlines is facing an ongoing aircraft shortage that began last year due to issues with Pratt & Whitney engines on its A321 aircraft. As of mid-this year, 15 of Vietnam Airlines' A321s remained grounded. Additionally, four Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft are out of service for Roll-Royce engine repairs.
Anh Tu
