en.Wedoany.com Reported - Vietnam Airlines has received a preliminary commitment from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to provide up to $2.9 billion in guaranteed loans to support the delivery financing for its purchase of 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
This preliminary commitment marks a key milestone in Vietnam Airlines' fleet investment and financing strategy, laying the groundwork for the airline to advance financing arrangements with international lenders and supporting the long-term implementation of its fleet modernization and expansion plans. The commitment is expected to enhance Vietnam Airlines' ability to secure competitive long-term financing while diversifying funding sources for its strategic investments. Vietnam Airlines is the first and only Vietnamese carrier to receive EXIM support for aircraft purchase financing, having previously obtained similar financing for its Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet programs.
The preliminary commitment reflects confidence in Vietnam Airlines' financial strength, credit profile, and long-term growth prospects, while also underscoring continued support for aviation and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the United States. In February 2026, Vietnam Airlines signed an agreement in Washington, D.C. to purchase 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled between 2030 and 2032.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet will play a pivotal role in Vietnam Airlines' route network development strategy, supporting domestic and regional market growth, improving operational efficiency, and meeting increasing passenger and cargo demand. This investment is part of the airline's long-term development plan, which aims to achieve sustained double-digit growth over the next five years, transporting approximately 168 million passengers and more than 2.25 million tons of cargo during the same period.
In addition to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 program, EXIM has expressed interest in exploring future project financing opportunities involving U.S. goods and services, with potential areas of cooperation including aircraft engines, maintenance and engineering facilities, and other aviation infrastructure investments. To support its fleet expansion and strategic investment plans, Vietnam Airlines is working closely with domestic banks and international financial institutions to develop diversified and efficient financing structures, ensuring long-term funding capabilities while maintaining prudent financial management and risk control.
Vietnam Airlines, which became the national carrier of Vietnam in 1995, currently serves 27 international and 22 domestic destinations with a fleet of 103 modern aircraft. Operating from Terminal 2F at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the airline offers up to 14 weekly flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with connections to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and other Asian countries. International flights between France and Vietnam are operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Through close cooperation with Air France and SNCF under the "Train + Air" program, the airline also provides flights from Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, and 23 regional cities via Paris. Serving Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and London, Vietnam Airlines positions itself as an air bridge connecting Europe to Vietnam. In 2010, Vietnam Airlines became a member of the SkyTeam alliance and was rated as a four-star airline by Skytrax.
