AviationNews – Vietnamese carrier Vietjet has ended its landmark wet-lease for two COMAC C909 aircraft from Chengdu Airlines, opting not to renew the contract after a six-month operational trial. The decision marks a significant setback for COMAC’s ambitions to expand its aircraft presence in the competitive Southeast Asian market.
The two COMAC C909 regional jets, formerly known as the ARJ21, were introduced into Vietjet’s fleet in April 2025. The aircraft were supplied under a wet-lease agreement, meaning Chengdu Airlines provided the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance. The jets were used on domestic routes, notably connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Con Dao Island, whose short runway requires specialized regional aircraft.
While the Chinese-made aircraft reportedly “performed acceptably” during the six-month term, the decision not to extend the lease was driven by commercial and logistical factors. A wet-lease is significantly more expensive than a standard “dry-lease,” and the arrangement proved unsustainable for the low-cost carrier’s business model.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Vietjet faced high operational costs linked to the foreign-based crew and maintenance support. The lack of an established local parts and support network in Vietnam meant that replacement components had to be sourced directly from China, complicating logistics and increasing expenses for the carrier.
The end of this lease means Vietjet will withdraw from the Con Dao routes, as it does not have other suitable aircraft in its fleet for this specific mission. The airline is expected to continue focusing on its primary fleet of Airbus and Boeing narrowbody aircraft for its main domestic and international network.
This decision highlights the significant hurdles COMAC faces in establishing its aircraft outside of China. While the initial Vietjet lease was seen as a major breakthrough, the termination underscores the critical importance of building a global MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) network and reducing operational costs to compete with Western manufacturers.
