Vietnam Airlines this week finalized its first order for the Boeing 737 MAX.
The Hanoi-based carrier agreed to buy 50 737-8s, Boeing announced Wednesday.
Vietnam Airlines operates 17 787 Dreamliners but does not currently own any single-aisle Boeing aircraft.
The companies did not say when deliveries are expected to begin.
“The investment in 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft marks a significant step in building a modern, fuel-efficient fleet while enhancing operational performance and elevating service standards to meet international benchmarks,” Vietnam Airlines Chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa said in a news release. “This agreement also deepens the long-standing strategic partnership between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing, creating a strong foundation for our ambition to become a five-star international airline by 2030.”
Integration of the 737 MAX is expected to help reduce costs while building capacity and supporting new routes, airline officials added, noting that Vietnam’s air traffic is expected to double to more than 75 million annual passengers over the next 10 years.
Vietnam Airlines mainly flies to destinations in East and South Asia. It serves one destination in the U.S., San Francisco.
