Vietjet Air has signed a lease agreement for 10 COMAC C909 regional jets, marking a renewed commitment to the Chinese-manufactured aircraft despite ending a prior wet-lease trial in October 2025. This dry-lease deal expands Vietjet’s fleet with jets suited for short regional routes.
The agreement follows Vietjet’s decision not to renew a six-month wet-lease for two C909s from Chengdu Airlines, which expired on October 18, 2025, after operations on routes like Con Dao to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. That trial ended due to high costs of foreign crew and maintenance, plus Vietnamese regulatory hurdles, despite acceptable aircraft performance.
The new lease for 10 aircraft shifts to a dry-lease model, where Vietjet supplies its own crew and maintenance, potentially addressing prior cost and regulatory issues. C909 jets, designed for 90 passengers, target Vietnam’s domestic and underserved regional markets, including short runways like Con Dao where Vietjet previously withdrew after the wet-lease ended.
This move bolsters COMAC’s Southeast Asia presence after the initial setback, aligning with Vietjet’s growth strategy while balancing its Airbus and Boeing expansion. Operational rollout details remain undisclosed, but the deal enhances Vietjet’s low-cost regional connectivity.