Vietravel Airlines has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus for 50 aircraft, setting out plans for a larger fleet capable of serving both smaller regional markets and longer international routes.
The agreement was exchanged in Paris on 10 September during Vietnamese leader Tô Lâm’s visit to France. It covers 20 Airbus A220s and 30 A321-family aircraft, with deliveries expected to start in 2029.
The larger aircraft are expected to include both A321neo and A321XLR variants. Vietravel has not disclosed how the 30 aircraft would be divided between them.
The agreement remains preliminary rather than a confirmed firm order, with the final aircraft mix and detailed delivery schedule still to be established.
A220s to Support New Routes
Vietravel intends to use the A220 to develop routes where passenger demand would not support a larger aircraft, including markets without regular nonstop connections.
Airbus designed the A220 family for the 100–160-seat market. Its smaller capacity would give Vietravel another option when opening destinations that might initially struggle to fill an A321.
For passengers, the aircraft’s five-abreast economy layout places two seats on one side of the aisle and three on the other. The cabin would offer a different experience from the six-abreast layout commonly used on A320-family aircraft.
Vietravel has not identified which A220 variant it intends to acquire or announced a seating configuration.
The proposed combination would allow the airline to match aircraft capacity more closely to individual routes, using smaller jets where demand is developing and larger aircraft on busier services.
A321XLR Could Extend International Reach
The A321-family aircraft would support higher-demand routes and give Vietravel scope to expand further internationally.
The airline has outlined ambitions covering South Asia, Central Asia and selected Middle Eastern markets. Specific new destinations have not been announced as part of the agreement.
The potential inclusion of the A321XLR is particularly significant. Airbus advertises a maximum range of 4,700 nautical miles, approximately 8,700 kilometres, allowing the aircraft to operate longer services while retaining a single-aisle cabin.
Its additional range comes partly from a permanent rear centre fuel tank. The type is designed to serve routes that need long-range capability but cannot consistently support the capacity of a widebody.
For Vietravel, it could provide another way to develop its international network. Actual route choices would depend on the final aircraft specification, passenger demand and operating conditions.
Expansion Builds on Aircraft Ownership Strategy
The agreement follows Vietravel’s efforts to increase the proportion of aircraft it owns with support from T&T Group.
The airline received its first owned Airbus A321 in June 2025. Further additions have followed, including aircraft VN-A138, which arrived at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport on 17 April 2026.
At that delivery, T&T Group described the aircraft as the first in a plan to add nine jets over the following six months. The group said a larger fleet would give Vietravel more control over scheduling and support network expansion.
Those near-term additions are separate from the proposed new Airbus deliveries beginning in 2029.
The latest agreement sets out the next stage of that strategy: combining smaller aircraft for developing markets with larger, longer-range jets for international expansion. Converting the preliminary deal into a firm order would be the next major step towards putting that fleet into service.
