Vietjet 737 Max deliveries set for 2024-28

Vietnam low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has signalled that it will receive Boeing 737 Max aircraft from 2024 to 2028, having recently reaffirmed orders for 200 examples. The carrier made the revelation in an investor presentation for the first half of its 2022 financial year to 30 June. “Vietjet and Boeing [have agreed] to revise the delivery schedule of 200 aircraft [from 2024 to 2028] to fit the company’s growth and recovery after Covid-19,” says Vietjet. “[The] new agreement provides more flexibility for [aircraft] deliveries and incentives for parties in taking new Boeing 737 Max aircraft.” When contacted by FlightGlobal, Vietjet offered no further clarification. Boeing referred queries on the matter to Vietjet. Vietjet’s disclosure follows its announcement at July’s Farnborough Airshow that it reaffirmed the Boeing orders, with the first 50 aircraft earmarked for its Thailand affiliate, Thai Vietjet Air. Vietjet’s Farnborough statement made no mention of the delivery timeframe. According to Boeing’s orders and deliveries data, Vietjet has 200 737 Max aircraft on order. Though Boeing’s web site does not specify the variant, previously the companies have indicated Vietjet is obtaining the 737 Max 200 variant – a high density version of the Max 8. Vietjet’s 737 orderbook stems from two orders. In May 2016, airline chief executive Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao signed for 100 737 Max aircraft in the presence of then US President Barack Obama. At that time, deliveries of these first 100 aircraft were set to take place between 2019 and 2023.<br/>