VIETJET AIR
68% View from the Wing
15% One Mile at a Time
17% Other
VietJet Air is a Vietnamese low‑cost carrier that has grown rapidly and become known for its bold marketing tactics.
History and Ownership
- Founded in November 2007 as Vietnam’s first private airline, it began operations in December 2011.
- CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao owns roughly 90 % of the airline and was recognized as Southeast Asia’s first self‑made female billionaire.🔗
Fleet and Orders
- The airline’s fleet is dominated by Airbus narrow‑body aircraft, with about 64–66 Airbus A320/A321 planes reported in 2019.
- In September 2019 VietJet placed an order for 15 Airbus A321XLRs to enable longer‑range routes. 🔗
- In May 2025 the carrier expanded its Airbus A330neo order to 40 aircraft, planning to replace its older A330‑300s.
- It also has an order for 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Market Position
- VietJet now transports more passengers than the state‑owned Vietnam Airlines, making it Vietnam’s largest airline by traffic.
- The carrier holds over 40 % of the domestic market and serves 18 Vietnamese destinations plus 26 international cities.🔗
Marketing and Controversy
- The airline earned the nickname “the bikini airline” after a 2012 incident where five bikini‑clad models performed an unapproved three‑minute inflight dance, resulting in a fine of 20 million Dong (about $959).
- It regularly releases an annual bikini calendar and sometimes features scantily clad models on special flights, which the CEO describes as empowering for women in Vietnam’s conservative culture. 🔗
- In January 2018 VietJet apologized for a stunt involving models and young football players, calling it an improvised move and disciplining the staff involved.🔗
Recent Developments (2025‑2026)
- At the Singapore Air Show in February 2026 VietJet highlighted its partnership with Pratt & Whitney, noting that the GTF engine delivers up to 20 % fuel‑efficiency and supports the airline’s network expansion.
- The carrier expects the new A321XLRs to boost its international reach once they enter service.🔗
Economy Class & Beyond 13%
Singapore Air Show – Airshow Digest
The Singapore Air Show has been in full swing, and there have been signs of life at the show. Let’s see what the order books are cooking in the equator heat. As usual, we’ll go by airframers, then anyone else, in alphabetical order. Tigerair Taiwan has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for four A321neo aircraft, marking the airline’s first order for this type. The new aircraft will support the airline’s network expansion. They currently operate a fleet of 17 A320 Family aircraft, including nine A320ceo and eight A320neo. Chairperson Joyce Huang of Tigerair Taiwan
One Mile at a Time 15%
VietJet Apologizes For Putting Scantily Clad Models On Flight With Young Football Players
VietJet airlines is a Vietnamese low cost carrier that’s known for their “bikini” flight attendants. No, not all flights have flight attendants in bikinis, though the airline does release an annual bikini calendar of flight attendants. Furthermore, for special occasions the airline sometimes has scantily clad models do a walk down the aisle inflight. They did this on a recent inaugural flight, for example. Personally I’m not a fan of the way in which they objectify women, and I would find this to be incredibly uncomfortable (just like the time a dancer in Casablanca was shaking her breasts
View from the Wing 16%
The Bikini Airline Created Southeast Asia’s First Self-Made Female Billionaire
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is the 45 year old CEO and approximately 90% owner of VietJet, the first private airline to gain approval to operate in Vietnam. She expects to sell up to 30% of the airline in an IPO this year. She made her first million at 21 trading fax machines and latex rubber. Her other major holdings are in commercial real estate. The airline is turning a profit on half a billion dollars of annual revenue, and has more than a 40% share of the domestic Vietnam market with 35 Airbus narrowbody aircraft, up from just
View from the Wing 26%
Vietnam’s Bikini Airline Looks to Fly Longer Routes With New Airbus A321XLR Order
VietJet, with a current fleet of 66 Airbus narrowbody aircraft, is Vietnam’s largest airline – transporting more passengers than state-owned Vietnam Airlines. They were exclusively an Airbus customer until President Obama visited the country in 2016, and they firmed an order for more planes during President Trump’s visit to the region in February. They have 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. Now VietJet has placed an order for 15 Airbus A321XLR aircraft. This will allow them to fly longer routes – the XLR is an aircraft that American Airlines intends to fly to Europe. The airline’s
View from the Wing 2%
Government Over-regulation of Inflight Entertanment, Vietnam Edition
It’s tough to be an airline in Vietnam. VietJet Air was the first private airline to gain approval to operate in Vietnam in November 2007. And yet it didn’t actually begin operations until December 2011, with regulatory issues contributing to the delay. They expected AirAsia to take a 30% stake, but that airline pulled out over Vietnamese regulatory challenges. Today the airline operates 3 leased Airbus A320 aircraft. This month they faced a new regulatory challenge as they were fined 20 million Vietnamese Dong over unapproved inflight entertainment. It wasn’t a problem with the installation of
View from the Wing 22%
Bikini Airline Will Order Boeing 737s During Trump’s Nuclear Summit
Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways, which operates an all-Airbus fleet, will order 10 Boeing 787s planes while President Trump is in-country in a deal that would be worth $5.6 billion if airlines paid list prices for aircraft but they usually pay about half of list. Media report the bigger numbers anyway. The nation’s flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is also considering an order of 50 – 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and choosing between Boeing and Airbus widebodies for flights to the U.S. now that they’ve received US government safety approval, although these orders won’t be placed until later this year. The
View from the Wing 2%
LAX CEO Says A Surprising Airline Could Launch Non-Stop Service To Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines launched new service from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) during the pandemic. They’ve been eyeing non-stop service to Los Angeles as well – but they’re not alone. In fact a surprising carrier may be first to launch the service, and receive two years of subsidies from the Los Angeles airports authority. There are two airlines reportedly with Memorandums of Understanding in place to launch non-stop LA – Vietnam service: Bamboo Airways only launched service in 2019, but operates both narrowbody and long haul aircraft and uses Boeing 787-9 aircraft to serve destinations including
Point Me to the Plane 4%
Two Piece Bikinis Uniform of Choice for this Airline, CEO Becomes First Female Billionaire
“The sight of these young ladies strutting their stuff is a powerful one amidst Vietnam’s conservative culture.” The approach seems to be working from a monetary standpoint as well, with the airline stealing 30% market share from Vietnam Airlines and the CEO becoming the first ever female billionaire in the country. Of course, like last year, there’s an annual calendar being released for those looking for the perfect holiday gift.