Vietnam's largest LCC, VietJet Air, has signed a contract to lease 10 "C909" regional jets (formerly ARJ21) made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The agreement was reached on April 16, 2026, with SPDB Financial Leasing (SPDBFL), a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. At the same time, five new routes between Vietnam and China were announced. The announcement was timed to coincide with President Luong Cuong's visit to China (April 14), drawing attention on both the aviation and diplomatic fronts.
Details of the lease contract and new routes
According to reports by Bloomberg, SCMP, Skift, and others on April 17–20, the contract outline is as follows.
Since April 2025, VietJet has already received two C909s from China's Chengdu Airlines via a wet lease (a lease with crew) and operates them on Vietnamese domestic routes. This 10-aircraft contract is aimed at shifting from a wet lease to self-operation, making it the largest deal for international commercial use of Chinese-made airliners.
All five new routes are between Vietnam and China, and two of them have already begun operating in early April.
| Line | Operating status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi – Hangzhou | Already operating | Eastern China, IT city |
| Hanoi – Enshi | Began operating in early April | Hubei Province, world geopark |
| Hanoi – Huangshan | To be opened soon | Anhui Province, World Heritage site |
| Ho Chi Minh City – Guilin | Began operating in early April | Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region |
| Ho Chi Minh City – Huangshan | To be opened soon | — |
What is the COMAC C909 — China's first commercial jet
The C909 (formerly ARJ21) is a 90-seat-class regional jet developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). It was developed as part of a project by which the Chinese government promotes domesticizing aircraft manufacturing. It began commercial operation on Chinese domestic routes in 2016, and is currently operated domestically by Chengdu Airlines, Air China subsidiary OTT Airlines, and Joy Air, among others.
In the international market, Indonesia's TransNusa became the first overseas operator, followed by Lao Airlines. If VietJet introduces 10 aircraft, it will become the largest customer in the international market.
| Item | COMAC C909 | Reference: Embraer E175 | Reference: Bombardier CRJ900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of seats | 78–97 seats | 76–88 seats | 76–90 seats |
| Range | About 2,225 km | About 3,704 km | About 2,956 km |
| Country of manufacture | China | Brazil | Canada |
| Engine | GE CF34-10A | GE CF34-8E | GE CF34-8C5 |
| First aircraft entry into service | 2016 | 2004 | 2001 |
| Price range (estimated) | About 4 billion yen | About 6 billion yen | About 5.5 billion yen |
VietJet's strategy and the aviation industry's reaction
VietJet CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao commented, "This contract lays the foundation to gradually strengthen aviation connectivity between Vietnam and China." In addition to its mainstay Airbus A320/A321 family, the company aims to make its route network more efficient by introducing smaller aircraft matched to demand on China routes.
Aviation industry analysts assess that "VietJet's decision is a rational choice to diversify procurement sources amid the normalization of delivery delays at Airbus and Boeing." Skift reported, "For COMAC, VietJet becomes its most important international customer. It's a golden opportunity to build up a track record of safety and reliability."
On the other hand, some point out that "the safety standards of Chinese-made airliners have not obtained the Western EASA/FAA certifications." The C909 has obtained a type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), but the EASA and FAA certification processes are still ongoing.
Impact on Japanese travelers
Directly, there's a possibility you might board a C909 on some of VietJet's Vietnamese domestic routes. Two aircraft are currently operating on domestic trunk routes such as Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi–Da Nang.
Indirectly, the expansion of Vietnam–China routes broadens the options for a two-country "Vietnam + China" circuit for Japanese travelers.Combined with VietJet's Nagoya and Fukuoka–Ho Chi Minh City direct flights (launching April 24),a circuit like "Japan → Ho Chi Minh City → Guilin → Japan" also becomes realistic.
Together with the Hanoi–Prague direct flight scheduled to launch in July,the expansion of VietJet's route network is part of a strategy to make Vietnam a "travel hub."
The expansion of Vietnam's aviation market
In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam's aviation market carried a total of 24.1 million people: 10.2 million domestic (up 12% year on year) and 13.9 million international (up 19%). With a five-carrier setup of VietJet, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways, further added flights are planned toward the summer.
Vietnam Airlines opens a Hanoi–Amsterdam direct flight in June,strengthening connectivity with Europe. VietJet is focusing on expansion within Asia, especially China and Japan routes.
| Airline | Main new routes in 2026 | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| VietJet | Nagoya, Fukuoka, Shizuoka (Japan), 5 routes (China), Prague | A321neo + C909 |
| Vietnam Airlines | Amsterdam, added Manila flights, added Shanghai flights | B787-9, A350 |
| Vietravel Airlines | Hanoi–Bangkok resumed | A321 |
| Sun PhuQuoc Airways | Phu Quoc-Seoul | B737 |
Practical information: VietJet's China routes
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| New routes | Hanoi–Hangzhou/Enshi/Huangshan, Ho Chi Minh City–Guilin/Huangshan |
| Aircraft used | C909 (90-seat class) or A321 |
| Fare guide | 5,000–15,000 yen one way (during promotions) |
| Time required | 2–3.5 hours |
| Reservations | vietjetair.com |
| Visa | A Japanese passport requires a visa to enter China (transit visa exemption has conditions) |
Summary: What it means for a Chinese-made jet to fly Vietnam's skies
VietJet's introduction of the C909 isn't just a story of aircraft procurement. It's a symbolic case of China's aircraft manufacturing industry advancing into the international market, and shows that the economic ties between Vietnam and China are expanding into the aviation field too. For Japanese travelers, there's the benefit of dramatically improved access, via Vietnam, to China's regional cities (Guilin, Huangshan, Enshi). It's worth considering a circuit combined with VietJet's Japan routes.
