Airbus secured a major win at the Paris Air Show, signing a deal with Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet for up to 150 A321neo aircraft. The agreement, announced Tuesday, could be valued at approximately $9.4 billion, according to estimates by Cirium Ascend.
The move comes as the global aviation industry watches for signs of a return to a zero-tariff trade environment. Speaking at the event, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed support for reviving the 1979 tariff-free civil aviation agreement, signaling a potential shift in U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Airbus remains the dominant supplier in Vietnam, with its jets making up 86 percent of the country’s commercial airline fleet. Vietjet Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao noted that the scale of the order aligns with the airline’s long-term plans to help develop a major aviation hub in Vietnam. Airbus reported the country’s aviation market has grown by 7.5 percent annually.
Airbus’s performance at the show contrasts with rival Boeing’s more muted presence, as the U.S. manufacturer grapples with fallout from a recent Air India crash and a new “Section 232” national security investigation into imports of aerospace parts, potentially opening the door to more tariffs.
Meanwhile, AirAsia is reportedly exploring a deal for 100 A220s, and Airbus is said to be finalizing an order from Egyptair for six A350s. However, a possible agreement with Royal Air Maroc has been delayed, with attention shifting to a potential Boeing deal instead.
With input from Al Jazeera and news agencies.
