Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is seeking to wet-lease two regional jets starting next month and plans to use the aircraft on routes it currently serves using ATR 72 turboprops.

The airline says in a statement it invites interested parties to respond to its tender for a 12-month wet-lease on two regional jets and tentatively would like to start using the aircraft in January. 

An official at the airline tells Smart Aviation Asia Pacific the aircraft types that it is looking for could be Bombardier or Embraer models, but he declines to elaborate further. Two potential models could be the Embraer E-190 or Bombardier CRJ900.

The official says the regional jets will be used on the routes it is currently serving with ATR 72s.

The airline’s ATRs mainly serve Vietnam’s smaller airports that are unable to handle larger narrowbody aircraft, either because the runways are too short or the passenger volumes too low. Destinations served by ATRs include:  Ca Mau, Con Dao, Dien Binh Phu and Rach Gai. 

Vietnam Airlines has been facing increased competition on some of these routes – such as Con Dao and Dien Bien Phu – from Bamboo Airways which has Embraer E-190s. 

Vietnam Airlines has said publicly, since 2019, that it plans to order regional jets to replace its ATR 72 fleet.

Picture Source: airlinesfleet.com

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