(Yicai) April 15 -- Following so-called we media reports that VietJet Air will buy C919 passenger planes from China, Yicai found that Vietnam's second-largest carrier actually ordered ARJ21 regional jets.

VietJet Air will lease some ARJ21 planes from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Chinese we media accounts, or online news sources run by independent individuals and groups, said that VietJet Air has inked a purchase deal with Shanghai-based Comac and will become the C919's first overseas operator. Neither VietJet Air nor Comac has commented yet.

The C919 is China's first self-developed large passenger plane, while the ARJ21, or Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century, uses a new-type turbofan engine for short and mid-haul flights. ARJ21s have been delivered to eight carriers, with Indonesia's TransNusa Airlines being its first overseas operator.

Orders for the C919 have topped 1,000, Comac Chairman He Dongfeng said last year.

Orders have mainly come from domestic airlines and aircraft leasing firms, with the first delivered to China Eastern Airlines in December 2022. The Shanghai-based carrier operates five C919 and has ordered another 100, with its fleet set to reach 10 by the end of this year.

Air China and China Southern Airlines will likely receive their first C919s this year. Suparna Airlines, owned by HNA Aviation Group, also plans to add one C919 to its fleet in the fourth quarter. 

Editor: Martin Kadiev