Low-cost Vietnamese carrier Vietjet has decided not to renew a wet-lease agreement with Chengdu Airlines for two COMAC C909s, according to Reuters.
On October 20, 2025, the news agency reported that sources familiar with the details said that the lease arrangement had been allowed to expire on October 18, 2025.
One source told Reuters that the lease contract had not been renewed due to the costs associated with using foreign crews and maintenance services and not to do with the C909’s performance.
Another factor was reported to be regulatory constraints with Vietnam’s own aviation rules.
Built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the two C909s joined Vietjet in April 2025, just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam.
The first C909, registered B-656, and the second registered B-652G, operated on domestic routes between Con Dao Airport (VCS), Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN), and Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN).
The introduction of the aircraft marked the first official entry of the C909 into the Vietnamese market.
Both C909’s last flights for Vietjet were on October 17, 2025, from Con Dao Airport to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport.
COMAC is keen to establish a foothold in the Southeast Asia aircraft market where China has good relations with many countries.
In September 2025, Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, the parent company of AirAsia, confirmed that the carrier is in advanced talks with COMAC to acquire an unspecified number of C919s.
The C909 was previously known as the ARJ21-700.
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