Vietjet has registered an aircraft in Australia, in the strongest sign yet that it is planning to launch a domestic subsidiary.
VH-T8A, (MSN 63879) a Boeing 737 MAX 8– owned by VietJet Aviation – has appeared on the CASA register as of the 23rd of September, with a registered operator based in Melbourne under the name “Cherrie Aviation”. CASA data indicates that the aircraft is a 737 MAX 8 manufactured this year.
In a statement, a Vietjet spokesperson told Australian Aviation that the airline has “agreed to lease the registered aircraft to an Australian entity”.
“The Australian entity is currently seeking regulatory approval to operate aircraft in Australia,” the spokesperson said.
Speculation has swirled around VietJet’s possible entry into the Australian domestic market following reports in The Australian Financial Review earlier this year that the Vietnamese low-cost carrier had applied for an air operator’s certificate.
According to anonymous sources cited by the masthead, Vietjet has an eye to operate in Australia with a fleet of 10 aircraft. The carrier had reportedly previously considered buying Bonza after the failed domestic airline collapsed into administration in 2024.
Speaking to Australian Aviation for a recent feature, Steve Leib, associate professor of aviation at CQ University, said a tilt by Vietjet would “resolve a lot of the threats to a new entrant establishing themselves and growing”.
“We’re talking about a new entrant with a new AOC. It’s an Australian airline, but it is backed by Vietjet, and perhaps its design is a product of VietJet’s model,” he said.
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