Vietjet inks deal with Airbus for 20 latest-generation A321XLR aircraft

Vietjet to become one of the first carriers in the world to operate A321XLR aircraft in 2023

Two more A320/ A321 flight simulators also added to the Vietjet Aviation Academy

India, November 01, 2019 – New age-carrier Vietjet and aircraft manufacturer Airbus signed a contract for 20 brand-new A321XLR aircraft on October 31 in Toulouse (France). The first aircraft will be delivered in 2023, making Vietjet one of the first carriers in the world to operate Airbus’ newest “extra-long-range” version. With a range of up to 8,700km, the innovative model will serve Vietjet’s fleet of international flight network expansion plans in the near future.

On this occasion, the two parties also signed an agreement for two additional A320/A321 aircraft Simulators (SIM) for pilot and technician training, increasing the manufacturer’s investment to Vietjet Aviation Academy to three SIMs. The two additional aircraft Simulators will also help increasing the capacity for training at the Vietjet facility.

Vietjet President & CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury co-signed the important contract during the official visit of Mrs. Thao and Vietjet’s top leaders to Europe.

Vietjet President & CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said: “Vietjet has always been a pioneer for operating new, modern, advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft. We are proud of operating the world’s youngest Airbus fleet with an average age of only 2.7 years, which has contributed greatly to Vietjet’s success over the past years. Following the signing of this contract today, the new A321XLR will be the perfect upgrade to comprehensively modernize Vietjet’s fleet as we look to strongly grow the international flight network. It’s exciting to know that our passengers will soon enjoy flying on our comfortable, modern and cost-saving mid-haul flights.”

Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury, said: “Vietjet is one of the fastest growing carriers in the Asian region and we feel proud to have the A321XLR joining its fleet. This order is another strong endorsement of our decision to bring true long range capability to the singe aisle market with the A321XLR, enabling airlines to extend their networks at the lowest possible cost. Furthermore, we are also pleased to further develop our collaboration with Vietjet in the area of training.”

With this latest contract, Vietjet’s total order book with Airbus reaches 186 aircraft with the first A321XLRs to be delivered to the airline from 2023.

The next evolutionary step from the A321LR, the A321XLR model responds to market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, the aircraft will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700nm (8,704 km) – 15 percent more than the A321LR – and with 30 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous-generation aircraft.

As part of the deals for the new aircraft and SIMs, Airbus Services also provides state-of-the-art training solutions to ensure safe, reliable and economically efficient operations on all Airbus aircraft throughout their lifecycle. The aircraft manufacturer is also on-hand to offer support at every step of the way with a comprehensive and tailored training portfolio designed and developed by Airbus for Vietjet’s pilots, cadets, cabin crews, performance & operations engineers, maintenance personnel and structure & repair specialists.

About Vietjet:

Vietjet is the first airline in Vietnam to operate as a new-age airline offering flexible, cost-saving ticket fares and diversified services to meet customers’ demands. It not only provides transport services but also uses the latest e-commerce technologies to offer various products and services for consumers. Vietjet is a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. Vietjet was named “Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline 2018 - 2019” and awarded the highest ranking for safety with 7 stars in 2018 and 2019 by the world’s only safety and product rating website AirlineRatings.com. The airline has also been listed as one of the world's 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations by Airfinance Journal in 2018.

About Vietjet:

Currently, Vietjet operates around 400 flights daily, carrying more than 90 million passengers to date, with 129 routes covering destinations across Vietnam and international destinations in countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Cambodia.