Vietnam’s low-cost carrier VietJet Air has signed an agreement to lease up to 10 C909 passenger aircraft manufactured in China, marking an increase in Beijing’s efforts to expand its presence in the global aviation market dominated by Airbus and Boeing. The airline confirmed the deal with SPDB Financial Leasing, a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, to finance the aircraft through an operating lease arrangement.
Alongside the aircraft deal, VietJet announced the launch of five new routes connecting major cities in China and Vietnam, including Hanoi–Hangzhou, Hanoi–Enshi, Hanoi–Huangshan, Ho Chi Minh City–Guilin, and Ho Chi Minh City–Huangshan. The Chinese-made C909 aircraft, developed by China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), signifies China’s broader ambition to compete with Airbus and Boeing in the commercial aviation sector.
The deal coincides with Vietnamese leader To Lam’s recent four-day visit to China, emphasizing Hanoi’s focus on strengthening its diplomatic and economic ties with Beijing. The C909 aircraft has so far secured domestic Chinese airline orders and smaller carriers in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, and Indonesia.
This development illustrates China’s strategic push to challenge existing market leaders by introducing the C909, which aims to expand China’s influence in international aviation markets, particularly in Southeast Asia where demand is growing. VietJet’s expansion with this new fleet highlights its ongoing efforts to bolster its international network and modernize its fleet through strategic partnerships with Chinese financial institutions.
