Vietnamese private low-cost airline Vietjet Air, undergoing rapid growth and international expansion plans, has announced an agreement with Boeing to transfer up to 50 Boeing 737 aircraft to its Thailand-based subsidiary, Thai Vietjet Air. This move aims to strengthen aviation and tourism links between Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries in the region and follows a recent agreement to establish a new subsidiary in Kazakhstan.
According to reports from Asian Aviation, under the agreement, Vietjet Air will transfer 50 aircraft from its existing order of 200 Boeing 737s to Thai Vietjet Air, with deliveries of the first aircraft expected to begin in October 2025. The expansion in Thailand will enable Vietjet Air to significantly expand its presence in the region and compete directly with other major Asian low-cost carriers such as Air Asia Thailand and Nok Air, as well as the national carrier Thai Airways.
Long-term partnership with Boeing
Vietjet Air signed its first order for the Boeing 2016 MAX in 737 during a visit to Vietnam by then-US President Barack Obama. This agreement was expanded at the Farnborough Air Show in 2018 with a letter of intent for an additional 100 aircraft. Most recently, in April 2025, Vietjet Air and AV AirFinance signed a financing agreement totaling US$300 million to cover the financing of the new Boeing fleet. This agreement is part of a broader series of aircraft financing deals valued at over US$4 billion that Vietjet has concluded with leading US financial institutions. These commitments are designed to support Vietjet Air's new fleet development plan, which includes the planned delivery of nearly 300 aircraft between 2025 and 2027. The signing ceremony of the latest agreement between Vietjet Air, Boeing, Thailand and Vietnam took place in the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during their first official visit to Vietnam in over a decade in May 2025.
Penny Burtt, President of Boeing Southeast Asia, expressed her delight at the partnership with Vietjet Air and Thai Vietjet Air to expand Boeing 737 operations in Vietnam and Thailand. Together, they aim to connect communities and drive economic development, paving the way for a prosperous future in Vietnam and the dynamically growing Southeast Asia region. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietjet Air, emphasized at the event that the transfer of 50 modern and efficient Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to Thai Vietjet Air demonstrates the company's long-term commitment to the sustainable development of aviation in the region. The goal is to implement the "Three Connects" strategy between the two countries, which encompasses supply chains, businesses, and local communities.
Technical support from Boeing
Under the agreement, Boeing will also provide Thai Vietjet Air with comprehensive technical support, including training for pilots, maintenance personnel, and engineers, as well as product services, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the new fleet in Thailand. Vietjet said in a statement that this new agreement marks a new milestone in the robust and effective cooperation between Vietnamese, Thai, and U.S. companies with shared priorities in digital transformation, sustainable development, and reducing development gaps among member states.
Headquartered at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, Thai Vietjet Air currently operates 33 domestic and international routes connecting Thailand's economic and tourism centers with cities in Vietnam, Japan, China, India, Cambodia, and other destinations in the region. The airline has carried over 30 million passengers to date, contributing significantly to tourism, trade, and regional cooperation within ASEAN, particularly between Vietnam and Thailand.
Thai Vietjet Air currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 18 aircraft, consisting of twelve Airbus A320-200s and six A321-200s with a single-class configuration for 180 and 230 passengers, respectively. The new Boeing fleet will enable Thai Vietjet Air to further expand its capacity and route network, strengthening its position in the highly competitive Southeast Asian market.
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