Vietnam Airlines and Sun PhuQuoc Airways have ordered up to 90 Boeing aircraft to serve as the backbone of their fleets amid ongoing talks between the United States and Vietnam for a new trade deal.

The US plane maker signed the deals with the two Vietnamese carriers on February 19 during a visit by Vietnam's top leader To Lam to the US for the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, an initiative of US President Donald Trump to address global conflicts.

In a media statement, Vietnam Airlines says its US$8.1-billion agreement with Boeing is for 50 narrow-body 737-8 jets, with delivery of the aircraft set for between 2030 and 2032.

The country’s flag carrier says the delivery would increase its total fleet to 151 aircraft by 2030. The carrier will prioritize the development of its narrow-body fleet to increase flight frequency and flexibility while optimizing operating costs.

787 Dreamliner jets

In a record-breaking move for a private Vietnamese carrier, newly-established Sun PhuQuoc Airways signed a US$22.5-billion deal to buy 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets.

The private airline will leverage the ultra-efficient, long-range 787 Dreamliner to connect international travellers to its Vietnamese hub at Phu Quoc International Airport on Phu Quoc Island – host of the 2027 Apec summit.

“Our partnership with Boeing establishes a strong foundation for building a world-class airline that operates in sync with the tourism and resort ecosystem Sun Group has developed,” Dang Minh Truong, chairman of Sun Group, the airline's Vietnam-based parent company, says in a Boeing announcement.

“We selected the Boeing 787-9 not only for its superior operational performance, but because it is the most suitable aircraft type to realize our vision of bringing Phu Quoc to the world and bringing the world to Phu Quoc,” he adds.

Long-haul markets

With a range of 7,565 nautical miles ( 14,010 kilometres ), the 787-9 will position Sun PhuQuoc Airways to efficiently connect Phu Quoc with major cities and other tourist destinations across Asia, Europe and North America, Boeing says.

Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, says: “The 787-9's unmatched range, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort will give the airline flexibility to open new long-haul markets, lower operating costs and contribute to local tourism growth.”

Boeing says that with Southeast Asia poised for significant air travel growth over the next 20 years, Vietnam is expected to be the region’s fastest-growing aviation market with annual passenger growth of nearly 8% by 2030.

The two aerospace deals come amid a flurry of US-Vietnam cooperation. Just prior to To Lam’s visit to Washington, D.C., Vietnam officially authorized SpaceX’s Starlink to launch its satellite internet services nationwide, marking a milestone for billionaire Elon Musk’s aerospace firm as it enters one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital economies.

The licence allows Starlink Services Vietnam to provide both fixed and mobile satellite internet services in the country.