VietJet plans Thai fleet expansion and new MRO facility.
VietJet is boosting its footprint in Thailand with a planned fleet expansion of its Thai subsidiary and an agreement for the development of an MRO facility.
Thai VietJet is due to receive its 10th Boeing 737-8 this month, the parent carrier said. It currently operates a fleet of 22 aircraft comprising seven Airbus A320s, six A321s and nine 737-8s, according to the Aviation Week Fleet Discovery database.
The Thai carrier aims to expand its fleet to 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft “in coming years,” VietJet said. VietJet has already committed to allocating these aircraft to Thai VietJet from its extensive orderbook.
The fleet expansion plan was highlighted during the official visit of Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam to Thailand, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.
VietJet also signed an agreement with the Thai government’s Eastern Economic Corridor Office regarding the establishment of an MRO center at Thailand’s U-Tapao airport. Located near Bangkok and major industrial zones, U-Tapao is being developed into an “aerotropolis” integrating logistics, aircraft engineering and maintenance, and high-tech services.
The MRO center is intended to “support VietJet’s flight operations,” the carrier said. The development “aims to enhance technical capabilities, optimize operational efficiency, improve fleet readiness and shorten aircraft maintenance turnaround times.”
The two parties also agreed to promote investment in aviation technical infrastructure, technology transfer, high-quality workforce training and enhanced regional air connectivity.
Thai Airways has long intended to develop major MRO facilities at U-Tapao, but its plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent financial challenges. It has since revived the project, and will cooperate with Bangkok Airways on some aspects of its MRO development.
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