Thai VietJet adds its first 737 MAX, to transition to all Boeing fleet

Introduction

Over the last 24 hours, I've been tracking a certain Boeing 737-MAX 8 as it makes its way from Seattle to Bangkok, via Anchorage and Sapporo. This particular aircraft, registered HS-VZA, caught my attention because it just happens to be the first 737-MAX 8 bound for Thai VietJet Air, the Thai wing of Vietnam's very successful LCC, VietJet Air.

This caught my attention particularly as there was not much fanfare made regarding this, the aircraft quietly touched down at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi at around 2.30am on November 23rd. Not much seems to be known about there about this particular 737 order so let's dive into it.

HS-VZA is actually the first of 50 737-MAX 8s due to be delivered to Thai VietJet!

The details

So for a little background, Thai VietJet Air was launched in 2014 as Thailand's wing of Vietnam's VietJet Air. It so far has managed to be very successful in the Thai market, being the dominant local LCC at Suvarnabhumi Airport. With all other major LCCs flying out of Don Mueang, with the exception of a small number of Thai AirAsia's domestic routes out of BKK, this gives Thai VietJet a rather good monopoly out of BKK.

The airline originally started out with 2 Airbus A320s operating domestic flights to major Thai cities such as Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket. Today it has grown its fleet to 18 aircraft, split between 12 Airbus A320s and 6 Airbus A321s which are all second hand and leased to the carrier from its Vietnamese parent company. This 737 actually marks the first ever brand new aircraft for this airline.

It now flies to 29 destinations across Asia, with the furthest being Sapporo, Japan. The airline intended to launch services from Bangkok to Tokyo Narita and Osaka in October 2025, this has since been delayed to March 2026, due to the delayed deliveries of the 737s.

So with an all Airbus fleet, where does the 737 fit in? Well, back in 2018 its parent company VietJet Air placed an order for 200 Boeing 737-MAXs. In 2024, it then announced that the first 50 of these 200 jets have been designated for Thai VietJet, with deliveries due to start in August 2025, this has slipped a little due to delivery delays. After that there was not much more information given about these planes.

Judging from the cabin, it looks like HS-VZA was originally due to be delivered to Southwest Airlines, as it features their cabins

The current configuration features 189 seats, with seat pitch ranging from 32 to 35 inches depending on the row, it remains to be seen if future aircraft will be delivered with VietJet specific cabins

However, it looks the goal here is to have the 50 737s replace Thai VietJet's entire Airbus fleet. This represents the airline more than doubling its fleet within the next 4 to 5 years, going from 18 aircraft to 50. This also means that the aircraft will have a fleet totally capable of reaching Japan and Korea non-stop, as of right now most of its services to Japan go via Taipei, with the exception of its Bangkok - Fukuoka and Chiang Mai - Osaka services.

A fleet of 50 will also mean that the airline will be catching up quick with the likes of Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air to become one of Thailand's biggest LCCs, as well as the airline with the youngest fleet in Thailand, certainly a very exciting time.

HS-VZA arrived very quietly early on November 23rd

Conclusion

It seems like Thai VietJet is aiming to dominate the Thai LCC market, with the delivery of its first of 50 Boeing 737-MAXs, the airline seems poised to be one of the biggest LCCs in Thailand. A strong customer based and a strong route network, should finally allow the airline to grow in the way it needs to, to be able to compete with the likes of Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air, which have dominated the market for decades. Certainly a very exciting time for the Thai aviation industry.