Vietravel Airlines Signs Letter of Intent for 50 Airbus Jets, Eyeing International Expansion

Vietravel Airlines and Airbus have signed a letter of intent covering up to 50 aircraft: 20 A220s and 30 aircraft from the A321 family, including both A321neo and A321XLR variants. The agreement was announced on September 10, at the Élysée Palace in Paris, during an official visit to France by Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, a setting that underscores the deal's significance beyond the airline itself. Deliveries under the letter of intent are expected to begin in 2029, giving Vietravel several years to firm up the agreement into binding orders and prepare its operation for a much larger fleet. The airline said the choice to pursue both aircraft types simultaneously reflects a deliberate network strategy: the smaller A220 would open new direct routes to underserved markets, while the longer-range A321XLR and standard A321neo would support gradual expansion into higher-demand and longer international routes across South Asia, Central Asia and parts of the Middle East. The planned order marks the next step in a broader transformation Vietravel Airlines has pursued since joining the T&T Group conglomerate at the end of 2024, moving the carrier from a smaller regional operator toward a long-term, internationally-oriented fleet planning phase.