Vietjet Air Unveils Livery Marking 50 Years Of Vietnam & France Diplomatic Relations

Vietnam-based low-cost carrier Vietjet
Air has unveiled a special livery on its newest Airbus A321neo aircraft, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France, the home country of Airbus, and Vietnam.

Second A321neo celebrating the countries’ relations

According to Vietjet Air, it took delivery of the aircraft, registered as VN-A539, during a ceremony at Paris Orly Airport
(ORY) on October 7.

Tô Lâm, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and president of Vietnam
, attended the event. Several other senior leaders of France and Vietnam were there when Airbus handed off the metaphorical keys to the A321neo.

Vietjet Airbus A321neo with a special sticker for French-Vietnamese relations

Photo: Vietjet Air

While Vietjet Air’s latest A321neo’s
livery remains identical to the rest of the carrier’s fleet, the aircraft’s side fuselage was decorated with a commemorative sticker showcasing both countries’ iconic symbols, including the Eiffel Tower.

In 2018, Vietjet Air welcomed an A321ceo with another special livery, marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam.

However, according to planespotters.net, the aircraft, registered as VN-A657, had that sticker until December 2021.

The airline removed the commemorative sticker when the A321ceo was being repaired after an incident at Ho Chi Minh Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) when it veered off the runway at the airport in June 2020. It returned to commercial service in December 2021.

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Airbus strengthening its relationship with Vietjet and Vietnam

Nevertheless, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the chairwoman of the board of directors of Vietjet Air, said that the symbolic aircraft marked the development of “economic, cultural and trade cooperation between the two countries, spreading good values ​​to the people of both countries and international friends.”

“Today’s event is even more meaningful as it marks the celebration of the success of the 19th Francophone Summit with the participation of leaders of nearly 100 member countries.”

Vietjet welcoming its A321neo in Paris

Photo: Vietjet Air

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, the executive vice president of sales of Airbus
Commercial Aircraft, added that the delivery was not only another milestone in the relationship between Airbus and Vietjet Air, which took delivery of its 80th aircraft from its 206-strong Airbus aircraft order book but also the between the European aircraft manufacturer and the Vietnamese aviation industry.

“We are proud and look forward to continuing to cooperate successfully with Vietjet for many years to come.”

During this year’s Farnborough International Airshow in July, Vietjet Air firmed up an order for 20 Airbus A330-900
aircraft. The Vietnamese carrier already has seven A330-300 aircraft in its fleet, ch-aviation data showed.

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Diplomatic ties

The delivery coincided with Lâm’s visit to France
, with the Vietnamese president visiting his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on October 6 and October 7.

On October 7, the Élysée Palace announced that France and Vietnam had signed an agreement that would elevate their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, promising to strengthen diplomatic ties in various fields, including defense, trade, and climate change.

According to the Vietnamese embassy in France, the two countries officially established diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973, shortly after the United States
signed the Paris Peace Accords and ceased military activities in the Asian country.

This would not be the first time that significant aircraft announcements from Vietjet Air had coincided with diplomatic visits. When Barack Obama, the 44th president of the US, visited Vietnam in May 2016, the low-cost carrier finalized an agreement for 100 Boeing 737 MAX
8-200 aircraft.

In February 2019, the US White House announced that Donald Trump, the 45th president of the US, was pleased that Vietjet Air ordered a further 100 737 MAX aircraft, split between 20 MAX 8 and 80 MAX 10s.

Current Vietjet Chairman of the board with Barack Obama

Photo: Vietjet Air

When Joe Biden, the current president of the US, toured Vietnam in September 2023, Vietjet Air said while the 737 MAX groundings and the pandemic had disrupted its plans to introduce the type into its fleet, the visit resulted in Boeing affirming the delivery schedule of the 737 MAX to the Vietnamese airline.

However, the current strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District Lodge 751 and District W24 have halted the 737 MAX’s production since September 13, which could potentially further delay Vietjet Air’s plans to introduce the type with its Thailand-based subsidiary, Thai Vietjet Air.

Ch-aviation estimated that Boeing should deliver the first three 737 MAX 8
s to Thai Vietjet Air in the next three months, including one in October.

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Vietjet has finalized its initial batch of 737 MAXs and 12 will start flying with Thai Vietjet next year.

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