VietJet Air, a low-cost airline company in Vietnam, leased two ARJ21 aircraft produced by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in December 2024 with plans to operate flights during the Chinese New Year period. However, due to certification difficulties and complex procedures, these two ARJ21 aircraft reportedly did not enter commercial operation in Vietnam.
According to reports from Central News Agency, VietJet Air sent a letter to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam in December 2024, stating their intention to lease two ARJ21 aircraft. They aimed to provide passenger services between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao during the Chinese New Year period, hoping for assistance and support from the authorities in terms of procedures.
Dan Tri, a Vietnamese news outlet, reported that during the Chinese New Year period, ARJ21 aircraft with VietJet Air’s logo were seen landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, and Con Dao Airport.
Many people believed that the Chinese aircraft had arrived in Vietnam and were ready to cater to passengers during the peak tourist season of the Chinese New Year. However, it was later revealed that the ARJ21 aircraft departed Vietnam after a brief stay. Information from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam indicated that the ARJ21 was only conducting trial flights in Vietnam and had not officially commenced commercial operations there.
Although VietJet Air aspired to operate the ARJ21 for passenger flights in Vietnam, the challenges lied in obtaining the necessary certifications. According to Vietnamese government regulations, all aircraft models imported into Vietnam must obtain certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), or the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.
Currently, the ARJ21 produced by COMAC has not received certifications from the FAA and EASA. Furthermore, acquiring certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam is also difficult due to the insufficient capacity of the regulatory body to assess and certify the ARJ21.
Reports highlighted that if VietJet Air had imported aircraft from Boeing, Airbus, or Embraer, the certification procedures for commercial flights in Vietnam would have been much simpler. However, with the introduction of aircraft from COMAC, the procedures become more complex. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam lacks official information regarding the design, production, maintenance, and operations of COMAC aircraft, making it challenging to evaluate the certification process related to them.