PATTAYA, Thailand – Vietnam’s low-cost carrier VietJet Air has signed an agreement to lease up to 10 C909 passenger aircraft manufactured in China, marking another step in Beijing’s efforts to expand its presence in the global aviation market dominated by Airbus and Boeing.
The airline confirmed that it has reached an agreement 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 also 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.
“With a vision to become a multinational aviation group, VietJet is expanding its international network and investing in a modern fleet,” the airline said, adding that Chinese financial institutions played a key role in structuring the leasing and financing agreements.
The announcement comes during Vietnamese leader To Lam’s four-day visit to China from April 14–17, shortly after he was re-elected to his leadership position. His visit, described as unusually swift for high-level diplomacy, signals Hanoi’s continued emphasis on strengthening ties with Beijing as a key pillar of its foreign policy.
The C909 aircraft, developed by China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is part of Beijing’s broader ambition to challenge the long-standing dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the global commercial aviation market.
While COMAC has made progress in securing orders, most of its current customers remain domestic Chinese airlines and smaller carriers in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, and Indonesia.
