VietJet has signed a lease agreement to acquire 10 COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) C909 aircraft in a sign of a deepening commitment to the Chinese-made narrowbody.
On April 16, 2026, VietJet confirmed contracts for the lease were agreed with SPDB Financial Leasing (SPDBFL), a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.
The lease announcement came as Vietnam’s President To Lam arrived in China on a state visit at the invitation of China’s President Xi Jinping.
Officials from VietJet and the Chinese government, including Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Giang, met at the Embassy of Vietnam in Beijing for a special signing ceremony.
“Driven by its vision to become a multinational aviation group, VietJet is expanding its international flight network and investing in a modern fleet. Supporting this strategy, SPDB – one of China’s leading financial institutions – brings strong financial capacity and extensive experience in financing large-scale projects,” said a Vietjet spokesperson.
Vietjet said that the agreement “lays the foundation for VietJet to gradually introduce COMAC aircraft into operations on routes connecting Vietnam and China”.
In October 2025, VietJet allowed a lease contract for two C909s to expire due to the costs associated with using foreign crews and maintenance services. The aircraft joined the VietJet fleet on a wet-lease agreement with Chengdu Airlines in 2025.
The lease agreement was subsequently restarted after a brief pause. The two C909s have since been operating for VietJet, although one is currently parked, according to Planespotters.net.
During President Lam’s visit to China VietJet also announced five new routes between Vietnam and China, including: Hanoi-Hangzhou, Hanoi-Enshi, Hanoi-Huangshan, Ho Chi Minh City-Guilin, and Ho Chi Minh City-Huangshan.
The Hanoi–Enshi and Ho Chi Minh City-Guilin routes have been in operation since early April 2026.
