Vietjet is the first Vietnamese airline to operate Chinese-made COMAC aircraft. The airline has officially opened ticket sales for two new routes: Hanoi - Con Dao and Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao, both operated by the COMAC C909.

Specifically, the Hanoi - Con Dao route will begin operation on April 19 with two daily flights departing at 6:45 AM and 9:15 AM.

The return route, Con Dao - Hanoi, will also start on April 19, offering two flights daily departing at 11:35 AM and 2:05 PM.

The Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route will also operate from April 19 with two daily flights departing at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM.

The return leg, Con Dao - Ho Chi Minh City, will start on the same day with two daily flights departing at 9:20 AM and 11:50 AM.

It is understood that in order to bring this aircraft into operation, the government amended and issued a new decree on conditional business sectors in the field of civil aviation.

The updated decree expands the list of countries from which aircraft may be imported, now including Brazil, Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, and China.

Specifically, the decree allows aircraft types to be imported into Vietnam if certified or approved by one of the following aviation authorities: the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, or the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Certification from the Ministry of Construction may also be accepted or recognized.

This regulatory update allows aircraft certified by more countries to enter the Vietnamese market, enhancing fleet sourcing options from Brazil, Canada, Russia, the UK, and China.

Explaining the need for this regulatory change, the Ministry of Construction noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in several global regions disrupted aircraft and parts supply chains from traditional manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing. This shortage of short-haul jet aircraft significantly affected Vietnamese airline operations.

In this context, the previous limitation that only allowed aircraft certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the FAA, or EASA to operate in Vietnam reduced opportunities for Vietnamese airlines to access aircraft designed and manufactured by other technologically advanced countries.

“With the advancements of many nations in aviation and aerospace technology, especially China, Vietnam’s recognition of aircraft type certifications issued by Chinese and UK authorities expands aircraft sourcing opportunities for Vietnamese carriers. It also strengthens international cooperation with key partner countries based on an objective and accurate assessment of scientific and technological capabilities,” a Ministry of Construction representative explained.

Regarding the safety of the COMAC C909 aircraft, from January 15 to 24, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) dispatched a working delegation to Shanghai, China, to directly engage with COMAC and the CAAC. The team conducted evaluations of the aircraft’s technical specifications, operations, maintenance protocols, design standards, manufacturing processes, testing procedures, and the aircraft type certification process for the ARJ21-700 (C909).

Based on COMAC's reports, there have been no major accidents or serious incidents involving the C909 since it entered service.

In 2024, the aircraft has been averaging 5.2 flight hours per day (block time) with a dispatch reliability rate exceeding 99%.

During the same period, the C909 fleet recorded around 194,000 flight hours across approximately 135,000 commercial operations, with 509 operational interruptions, including 131 flights canceled due to mechanical reasons.

This translates to a technical disruption rate of 3.77 per 1,000 flights and a cancellation rate of 0.97 per 1,000 flights.

When these results were compared to the safety and certification standards of the CAAC, FAA, and EASA, the CAAV recommended recognizing China’s design and manufacturing standards as a foundation for easing aircraft supply constraints in civil aviation.

N. Huyen