The Vietnamese “bikini airline” just put in an $11 billion order with Boeing for a hundred 737 MAX 200 airplanes.
VietJet, a low-cost 5-year-old airline, has gained a lot of publicity in the past for its bikini-clad flight attendants who have appeared in their in-flight lingerie and Hawaiian-themed shows. The airline now has nearly 40% of Vietnam’s domestic airline market.
The deal is valued at $11.3 billion, according to current listed prices. It’s possible that VietJet had a discount of up to 50% off the list prices of the planes, which are expected to be delivered between 2019 and 2023.
The Boeing aircraft order is significant in Vietnam since Airbus has always had a prominent presence in the country. VietJet and Vietnam’s other major airlines have primarily operated an all-Airbus fleet
VietJets’ CEO is on her way to becoming Vietnam’s first female billionaire when the privately-owned airline goes public. The company is expected to hold an IPO as early as the second quarter of 2016.
