According to information in the Government Newspaper , Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc has agreed in principle to purchase aircraft without providing a government guarantee. The Deputy Prime Minister assigned VNA to take full responsibility according to the provisions of the law.

As part of the fleet development strategy for the 2025–2035 period, with a vision to 2040, the plan to invest in 50 narrow-body aircraft is one of the important pillars to help VNA increase its operational capacity, modernize its fleet and expand its scale of operations.

This investment is aimed at expanding the short- and medium-haul flight network in key markets such as Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and domestic markets - where transportation demand is growing rapidly and competition is increasingly fierce - while contributing to improving operational efficiency, saving fuel, reducing emissions and realizing the national airline's long-term sustainable development goals.

Increasing the narrow-body fleet also helps VNA improve operational flexibility, while providing more product and service options for passengers.

Vietnam Airlines will use its narrow-body fleet to operate domestic markets and low-capacity international routes, focusing mainly on flights lasting less than 5 hours. The fleet will be divided into groups of aircraft equivalent to A321 and equivalent to A320.

The total cost that Vietnam Airlines must spend to implement the project of investing in 50 narrow-body aircraft of the A320NEO or B737MAX family and 10 spare engines is about 3.697 billion USD, equivalent to 92,810 billion VND.

Vietnam Airlines plans to sell and lease back the first 25 aircraft received in the period 2028 - 2030 and use equity capital combined with loans to purchase at a loan rate of 50% of the aircraft purchase price for the remaining 25 aircraft received in 2030 - 2031. This structure will help Vietnam Airlines significantly reduce cash flow pressure.

Given the importance and urgency, and the current shortage of aircraft supply, Vietnam Airlines aims to complete investment procedures, select aircraft suppliers, and negotiate and sign aircraft purchase contracts in the first half of 2025.

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/dong-y-chu-truong-vietnam-airlines-mua-50-may-bay-khong-cap-bao-lanh-chinh-phu-ar940677.html