Vietnam’s Aviation Soars in Early 2026: New Aircraft, Cabin Crew Recruitment, and Headquarters Relocation

Aviation Market Buzzing with New Developments

Specifically, in the fleet segment, the new airline Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) continued its expansion on the first day of 2026 by receiving its 6th Airbus A321NX aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft in operation to six. This addition comes as the airline is gradually enhancing its operational capabilities to support its plans for expanding domestic and international flight networks in the near future.

Over three consecutive days—December 30 and 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026—Vietjet Air also welcomed three new-generation A321neo aircraft into its fleet to meet the increased travel demand during the peak Tet holiday season in 2026. Previously, the airline had added four wet-leased aircraft to its fleet for the year-end peak period. In less than a month, Vietjet has added a total of 22 new aircraft, marking its largest fleet expansion to date.

Alongside fleet expansion, airlines are also bolstering their workforce. Bamboo Airways announced a large-scale recruitment drive for flight attendants, aiming to process around 1,000 applications by the end of January 2026. This hiring initiative is designed to strengthen the airline’s workforce in preparation for its operational plans and service quality enhancements in the coming period, as the airline stabilizes and gears up for long-term development goals through 2030.

In terms of organization and management, Vietravel Airlines began operations at its new headquarters in Hanoi after relocating from Ho Chi Minh City. The new headquarters of this airline, part of the Bau Hien family, is located at 172 Ngoc Khanh, Ba Dinh District. This strategic move aims to optimize operations, consolidate technical and human resources, and prepare for a new growth phase and future network expansion.

Aviation Demand Rebounds, International Passengers Drive Growth

According to the Vietnam Aviation Industry Strategy Report 2026, published by MBS Research in December 2025, the outlook for Vietnam’s aviation sector in 2026 is positive, supported by the continued recovery of the global and Asia-Pacific aviation markets. The report cites data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which shows that in October 2025, global air passenger traffic (RPK) reached 822 billion passenger-kilometers, a 5.4% increase year-over-year, marking the 8th consecutive month of growth. The Asia-Pacific region recorded an 8.1% increase in RPK, with international passenger traffic rising by 10.9%, making it one of the fastest-recovering regions globally.

For the Vietnamese market, statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, cited in the report, show that in the first 10 months of 2025, total passenger traffic through airports reached nearly 100 million, a nearly 7% increase year-over-year. International passengers were the primary growth driver, with approximately 38 million passengers, an 11% increase, while domestic passengers reached 61 million, a 4% increase. In 2026, the report forecasts that international passengers will remain the main growth driver, with a 13.9% increase to approximately 52 million passengers, pushing total industry passenger numbers beyond pre-Covid-19 levels.

Domestically, passenger numbers are expected to grow steadily by around 5% year-over-year, reaching approximately 75 million passengers in 2026. The report suggests that the increased aircraft supply in 2026–2027, coupled with airport infrastructure expansion, will enhance operational capacity and help stabilize ticket prices.

Regarding infrastructure, the report highlights the role of Long Thanh International Airport—a national key project designed to handle up to 100 million passengers annually upon full completion. Once operational, international passenger traffic is expected to shift significantly to Long Thanh Airport, helping domestic airlines improve operational efficiency and enhance the industry’s competitiveness in the medium and long term.