VietJetAir (VJ, Hanoi Noi Bai International) is poised to sign a USD200 million aircraft finance deal with US-based investment firm KKR - Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, according to Reuters. The agreement is expected to be signed this week in Washington D.C., at an event attended by Boeing executives.
VietJetAir has a longstanding order for 150 Boeing narrowbodies, including fifty B737-8s and 100 B737-8-200s. The order dates back to 2016 but is dormant. It is unclear whether the KKR financing would support this order or a new one, as the carrier is also reportedly considering adding twenty B787s.
VietjJetAir CEO Dinh Viet Phuong told a meeting in Hanoi on April 4 that ten B737-8s will be delivered this year. The value of those aircraft is approximately USD1.8 billion.
KKR declined to comment and VietJet did not respond to a request for comment.
The US government recently imposed a 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports. Viet Nam currently enjoys a USD123.5 billion trade surplus with the US. However, fresh Boeing orders from VietJet and other Vietnamese carriers would reduce that surplus and potentially provide the Vietnamese government with some leverage to negotiate a tariff reduction.
In addition to the outstanding Boeing order, VietJet has aircraft on order at Airbus, including seventy A321-200NX, twenty A321-200NY(XLR)s, and twenty A330-900Ns.
