According to a Reuters report, on Monday (Sept. 11), the White House announced a deal involving 50 Boeing 737 Max 8 airliners going to Vietnam Airlines. President Biden is currently visiting the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi as part of his administration’s effort to strengthen U.S. presence in the South Pacific. The Boeing deal is said to be worth $7.8 billion.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), after it removed travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam rated as the world’s fifth fastest-growing aviation market in 2022. IATA predicts Vietnam will transport 150 million passengers by 2035.
Reuters also reported that Boeing has also signed an agreement with VietJet, a rival of Vietnam Airlines, for 200 737 Max airliners.
Why is the headline story about a sale of 50 airplanes with an “also-reported” sale of 200 airplanes? Seems like it should be the other way around.
That deal is not new.
The announcement was made by the White House, implying political considerations in the deal; however, I have no idea what those considerations might be.