Boeing has secured a massive $8 billion aircraft deal with Vietnam Airlines as part of a broader trade agreement signed between the United States government under President Donald Trump and Viet Nam, marking one of several major aviation contracts tied to recent U.S. trade negotiations across Asia.
While the deal framework has received approval, Boeing has not yet finalized specific aircraft types or delivery schedules, though Vietnam Airlines expressed interest in adding 30 widebody jets—specifically the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 models already operating in its fleet—through an industry invitation issued in September to both major manufacturers.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates 17 Boeing 787 Dreamliners split between 11 of the 787-9 variant and 6 of the 787-10 model with an average fleet age of 8.2 years, and this order follows the airline's earlier approval to purchase 50 additional narrowbody aircraft to expand its single-aisle operations and improve network efficiency.
The Viet Nam deal reflects a pattern of aviation-linked trade agreements Boeing has pursued since Trump took office, with similar framework deals reportedly in progress including up to 100 aircraft for Japan, 50 planes for Indonesia potentially featuring the Boeing 777X with Garuda Indonesia as the likely customer, and as many as 80 aircraft for Thai Airways.
These trade-based aircraft purchases aim to establish balanced commercial relationships between the U.S. and partner nations while providing Asian carriers the fleet expansion capacity they need to support renewal programs and meet growing demand through the 2030s, though Boeing has not yet added most of these framework agreements to its official orders and deliveries book pending final contract details.
