VietJet finally received its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after a remarkable nine-year wait, with the handover ceremony taking place at Boeing's facility in Seattle on September 21, 2025, attended by Viet Nam's President Luong Cuong.
The delivery marks a historic milestone as VietJet's fleet has been entirely composed of Airbus aircraft until now, making this Boeing 737 MAX-8 the airline's first non-Airbus plane apart from a recent short-term lease of two Chinese-made Comac regional jets.
The aircraft delivery stems from VietJet's landmark agreement signed in 2016 during U.S. President Barack Obama's state visit to Viet Nam, when the airline committed to purchasing 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as part of a $3.2 billion deal.
Production delays and regulatory challenges, including the global grounding of 737 MAX aircraft following safety concerns, contributed to the extended timeline that pushed the first delivery nearly a decade beyond the original schedule.
This delivery represents more than a business transaction, symbolizing the strengthening economic and aviation ties between Viet Nam and the United States, with VietJet planning to use the fuel-efficient aircraft to support its expansion plans across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
