A total of 17 Airbus A321neo aircraft operated by Vietnamese airlines remain grounded because of a prolonged shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
The update was announced during the authority's mid-year review conference on July 17. Officials said Vietnamese carriers are currently operating 280 aircraft, including 252 fixed-wing aircraft and 28 helicopters, an increase of 18 aircraft compared with the previous year.
Although 17 aircraft are still out of service, the number of grounded jets has fallen by six compared with the same period in 2025.
The engine issue dates back to 2024, when Pratt & Whitney launched a global inspection and maintenance programme affecting engines fitted to the Airbus A321neo, one of the world's most widely used narrow-body aircraft. Around 3,500 engines worldwide have been recalled for inspection and overhaul.
As a result, engine maintenance times have increased significantly, from the usual 90 days to between 250 and 300 days, disrupting airline operations globally.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the situation had improved considerably by the end of the first quarter of 2026. However, airlines continue to face lengthy repair times and a shortage of spare engines. The association also warned that congestion at maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities remains a major challenge for the global aviation industry.
In recent months, Vietnamese airlines have accelerated fleet expansion to meet growing passenger demand and help ease airfare pressures. Sun PhuQuoc Airways recently took delivery of its 13th aircraft and expects to receive another 15 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft by the end of the month, increasing its fleet to 26 aircraft less than a year after launching operations.
CAAV figures show that during the first half of 2026, Vietnamese airlines carried 18.7 million domestic passengers, up 0.3 per cent year on year, while maintaining 54 domestic routes linking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and 20 airports nationwide.
Domestic carriers also transported 9.6 million international passengers, an increase of 0.2 per cent, accounting for nearly 37 per cent of all international air travellers to and from Vietnam.
Vietnamese airlines currently operate 109 international routes serving 22 countries and territories, while airlines from 41 countries and territories fly 235 scheduled routes to Vietnam.
