China’s COMAC seeks partnership with Vietnamese businesses to expand in Vietnam market

Vietnam is a large and promising market and COMAC has been having in-depth technical discussions with Vietjet, Wei Yingbiao, the company’s deputy general manager, told Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting with him in Yunnan Province, China, on Wednesday.

His company rates the Vietnamese market highly due to its strong economic growth, and hopes for government support for its collaboration with Vietjet, he said.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (middle-right) meets with leaders of Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC on Nov. 6, 2024. Photo by Nhat Bac

Chinh told him COMAC has diversified the global commercial aircraft market, and its collaboration with Vietnamese firms is welcomed.

He sought favorable pricing and other incentives for Vietjet and new flight routes within Vietnam and between the two nations.

China's COMAC C919 aircraft at the Van Don airport in Quang Ninh Province, February 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan

Founded in 2008, COMAC is a state-owned enterprise that currently sells two models: the C919 narrow-body airliner and the ARJ21 regional jet.

As of the end of August it had orders for over 1,000 C919s, with the three largest airlines in China each looking to buy 100.

Chinese airlines have also been flying the ARJ21 on domestic routes.

COMAC delivered this model to its first international customer, an Indonesian carrier, in 2022.

Earlier this year it showcased both planes at an event at the Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province, its second display outside China.