Hanoi, May 27 - Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet Air solidified its commitment to expanding its global presence by signing an agreement with Airbus to purchase 20 additional A330neo wide-body aircraft. This landmark deal, formalized during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Hanoi, marks a significant step in VietJet’s ambitious growth strategy and underscores the strengthening economic ties between France and Vietnam. The agreement, signed by VietJet’s chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, and Airbus executive vice-president, Wouter van Wersch, was witnessed by Macron and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. This order builds on a previous agreement from 2024 for 20 A330neo planes, bringing VietJet’s total commitment to 40 of these advanced wide-body jets.
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The A330neo, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and boasting a non-stop range of 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 kilometers), is designed to enhance VietJet’s operational efficiency and support its plans for network expansion. VietJet, already operating an all-Airbus fleet of 115 single-aisle A320 Family aircraft and seven A330-300s, with 96 more A320s on order, aims to leverage the new A330neos to increase capacity on high-demand routes across the Asia-Pacific region. The airline also signaled its intent to explore long-haul services to Europe, a move that aligns with its goal of transforming into a global aviation player over the next decade. While the financial details and delivery schedule of the order were not disclosed, industry estimates suggest the deal could be valued at approximately $7.4 billion based on Airbus’s list price of $374 million per A330-900neo, though discounts are common in such transactions.
Macron’s visit, the first by a French president to Vietnam in nearly a decade, provided a strategic backdrop for the agreement. France, seeking to bolster its influence in its former colony, signed deals worth over €9 billion ($10.25 billion) during the visit, covering sectors such as aviation, defense, nuclear energy, railways, maritime transport, and satellite technology. The Airbus deal with VietJet was a centerpiece of these agreements, reflecting France’s push to deepen trade relations with Vietnam amid global economic uncertainties. Vietnam, a rapidly growing economy heavily reliant on exports, faces pressure from the United States to reduce its trade surplus, with potential tariffs of up to 46% looming. This has led to discussions about purchasing up to 250 Boeing aircraft by VietJet and Vietnam Airlines, a move that could offset trade imbalances but has raised concerns among European officials about concessions that might disadvantage Airbus, which supplies 86% of Vietnam’s commercial fleet.
The VietJet-Airbus agreement also highlights Vietnam’s aviation sector as a key driver of its economic growth. VietJet’s expansion plans align with the country’s broader ambitions to enhance connectivity and tourism, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The A330neo’s fuel efficiency and extended range make it an ideal choice for VietJet to meet rising demand while maintaining cost competitiveness. Additionally, the deal reinforces Airbus’s dominant position in Vietnam’s aviation market, even as the country navigates complex trade dynamics with both the U.S. and the European Union. Macron’s visit, part of a broader Southeast Asian tour including Indonesia and Singapore, underscores France’s strategic interest in fostering partnerships in the region, with the VietJet order serving as a tangible outcome of these diplomatic efforts. This agreement not only strengthens Viet Momenti’s operational capabilities but also symbolizes the deepening economic and strategic partnership between France and Vietnam. As VietJet prepares to expand its network and potentially enter the long-haul market, the acquisition of these 20 A330neo aircraft positions the airline to play a pivotal role in shaping Vietnam’s aviation landscape while contributing to the country’s global economic integration.