Vietnam’s affordable airline Vietjet and China’s SPDB Financial Leasing (SPDBFL), a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, have signed an agreement for the finance lease of 10 COMAC C909 aircraft.

The agreement marked a step forward in financial and aviation cooperation between Vietnam and China, Vietjet said in a release on Thursday. The signing ceremony took place during the state visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to China, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Under the agreement, the aircraft will be financed through operating leases, covering up to 10 COMAC C909 planes. The arrangement is expected to support Vietjet’s fleet operations and diversify its financing sources. Vietjet, associated with Vietnamese female billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, did not provide other financial details.

The deal also provides a basis for Vietjet to introduce COMAC aircraft on routes connecting Vietnam and China, contributing to expanded air connectivity between the two countries and supporting regional aviation links. Vietjet once utilized COMAC C909 aircraft on Hanoi-Con Dao and Ho Chi Minh City-Con Dao routes in 2025, as the airport in Con Dao cannot accommodate other aircraft of the airline.

During the visit, Vietjet also announced five new routes between Vietnam and China: Hanoi–Hangzhou, Hanoi–Enshi, Hanoi–Huangshan, Ho Chi Minh City–Guilin, and Ho Chi Minh City–Huangshan. The Hanoi–Enshi and Ho Chi Minh City–Guilin routes have been in operation since early April 2026.

In 2025, Vietjet recorded a consolidated revenue of VND82,093 billion ($3.11 billion), up 13.9 percent year-on-year. Consolidated profit before tax reached VND2,630 billion, an increase of 44.3 percent, while profit after tax rose 51.2 percent to VND2,123 billion.

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