Vietnamese carrier Vietjet has confirmed it is purchasing 100 additional 737 MAX airplanes from Boeing, taking its MAX order book to 200 jets.
During a signing ceremony on February 27 in Hanoi, Vietnam, U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong led the unveiling of the US$12.7 billion order, according to list prices, said U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing in a statement.
The deal, made provisionally in July last year, includes 20 MAX 8s and 80 of the new, larger MAX 10 variant, which will have the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle airplane and be the most profitable jet in its market segment, Boeing further said.
In ordering 80 MAX 10s, Vietjet becomes the largest Asian customer of the airplane type. The carrier plans to use the added capacity to meet growing demand across Vietnam, as well as to serve popular destinations throughout Asia.
“The deal for 200 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes today is an important move for us to keep up with our international flight network expansion plan with a higher capacity, thus offering our passengers with more exciting experiences when being able to fly to more new international destinations,” said Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, president and CEO of Vietjet.
Vietjet placed its first order for 100 737 MAX airplanes in 2016, which set the mark for the largest commercial jet purchase in Vietnam’s aviation sector at the time.
Said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president & CEO Kevin McAllister: “The economic expansion in Hanoi and across Vietnam is impressive. Vietjet and the country’s burgeoning aviation sector are clearly enablers, helping to stimulate travel within Vietnam and connecting Vietnam with the rest of Asia.”
In addition to airplane purchases, Boeing will partner with Vietjet to enhance technical and engineering expertise, train pilots and technicians, and improve management capabilities at the airline and in Vietnam.
The carrier also uses Boeing’s digital solutions to optimize its operations, including flight planning & Tech Log Book.
The 737 MAX family is powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines, and includes design updates such as Boeing’s advanced technology winglet that reduces drag and further optimizes the 737 MAX performance, especially on longer-range missions. Together, these improvements reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by at least 14% compared to today’s Next-Generation 737s—and by 20% more than the single-aisle airplanes they replace.
Photo courtesy of Boeing
