Vietnam Airlines leases 19 more Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft

Vietnam Airlines has signed agreements to lease 19 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with delivery expected in 2028. The deals were signed on Wednesday at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in the UK. Vietnam Airlines will receive 10 aircraft from SMBC Aviation Capital, 4 from Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited, and 5 from Phoenix Aviation Capital, which is managed by AIP Capital. Dang Ngoc Hoa, chairman of Vietnam Airlines, said the leases are the next step in the carrier’s fleet investment strategy to meet rising demand and improve competitiveness. The timing highlights industry pressure: manufacturers face large backlogs and longer delivery times amid intense lessor competition. Vietnam Airlines currently has 280 aircraft registered, including 252 fixed-wing and 28 helicopters, up 18 from 2025.