In its preliminary call for bids, the national flag carrier outlined interest in either the Airbus A350-900 or the Boeing 787-9, with deliveries expected between 2028 and 2032. Prospective partners must submit proposals, including aircraft type, delivery timeline, and contract value, by October 8.

Vietnam Airlines emphasized flexibility in its approach, stating it is open to leasing arrangements or outright purchases. Should it proceed with a full purchase, the deal for 30 aircraft and their engines could surpass US$10 billion, before accounting for potential discounts through bulk ordering.

The airline currently operates 102 aircraft, including 31 wide-bodies (14 Airbus A350-900s and 17 Boeing 787s), alongside 65 Airbus A320/A321 narrow-bodies and six ATR-72 turboprops. The new order would significantly strengthen its long-haul capacity.

This wide-body initiative comes on the heels of Vietnam Airlines’ earlier proposal to acquire 50 narrow-body jets—either Airbus A320neo or Boeing 737 MAX—and 10 spare engines, valued at VND92.8 trillion (approx. US$3.6 billion). That programme involves a mix of sale-and-leaseback arrangements and direct purchases, with deliveries scheduled from 2028 to 2031.

Chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa stressed that expanding the fleet by at least 50 aircraft is the “minimum requirement” to meet surging demand. He warned, however, that delivery constraints could force the airline to lease additional planes as early as 2027–2028.

To finance these major fleet investments, Vietnam Airlines plans to raise its charter capital by VND22 trillion in two phases—VND9 trillion in 2025 and VND13 trillion in 2026.

Vietnam Airlines partners with ACB and Visa to launch Lotusmiles Pay

Vietnam Airlines, in collaboration with Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB) and Visa Inc., has officially launched Lotusmiles Pay.