VietJetAir to Sign $200M Aircraft Financing Deal with KKR
VietJetAir is set to finalize a USD200 million aircraft financing agreement with U.S.-based investment firm KKR, according to a Reuters report. The deal is expected to be signed in Washington D.C. this week, with Boeing executives in attendance.
The financing could support VietJetAir’s dormant order for 150 Boeing aircraft, including fifty Boeing 737-8s and 100 Boeing 737-8-200s, placed in 2016. While details remain unconfirmed, the funds may also back a new order, as VietJet is reportedly considering the addition of twenty Boeing 787s.
VietJetAir CEO Dinh Viet Phuong recently stated that ten Boeing 737-8s are expected to be delivered in 2025, valued at approximately USD1.8 billion. KKR declined to comment on the agreement, and VietJet has not responded to media inquiries.
The deal comes amid heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and Vietnam, following the imposition of a 46% U.S. tariff on Vietnamese imports. Vietnam currently holds a USD123.5 billion trade surplus with the U.S., and fresh Boeing orders from Vietnamese carriers could help reduce the gap, potentially providing leverage in tariff negotiations.
In addition to its Boeing commitments, VietJet also has substantial orders with Airbus. These include seventy A321-200NX, twenty A321-200NY(XLR), and twenty A330-900N aircraft, reflecting the carrier’s aggressive fleet expansion strategy.
As VietJet seeks to diversify its financing sources and strengthen its international partnerships, the deal with KKR marks a key step in securing the resources needed to support its fleet growth and regional ambitions.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com