Vietjet Ends Chinese COMAC C909 Lease After Six Months in Vietnam

Vietnamese low-cost airline Vietjet Air has ended its six-month lease of two Chinese-made COMAC C909 regional jets, with operations ceasing on October 18, 2025. These jets, wet-leased from China's Chengdu Airlines, were the first Chinese commercial aircraft to operate on Vietnam's domestic routes, including flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Con Dao Islands. The lease termination was driven by economic and regulatory factors, including high costs related to foreign crews and compliance with Vietnamese aviation rules, rather than any operational issues with the aircraft. Vietjet has no immediate plans to purchase COMAC aircraft and remains committed to its existing Airbus and Boeing fleets, although future leasing models might change. The introduction of the COMAC C909 came amid heightened Vietnam-China diplomatic engagement, symbolizing a brief but significant Sino-Vietnamese aviation collaboration. The decision highlights challenges in integrating Chinese aircraft into the Vietnamese low-cost carrier market despite the growing presence of COMAC jets in Southeast Asia.