Aviation Crisis in Vietnam: 28 Jets Thrown OUT?

Vietnam’s aviation sector is under renewed strain after authorities confirmed that 28 commercial aircraft are grounded due to a global engine crisis linked to Pratt and Whitney engines. You now see the impact directly on airline operations and flight availability across the country.

Grounded aircraft form a sizeable share

The groundings affect multiple Vietnamese airlines and make up about 13 percent of the national commercial fleet. Official data released this week shows how deeply the disruption is cutting into available aircraft capacity for daily operations.

Fleet breakdown as of December 11, 2025

As of December 11, 2025, the grounded planes include 24 Airbus A321neo jets, three Airbus A350 widebody aircraft, and one Airbus A320ceo. These aircraft are part of Vietnam’s total fleet of 213 commercial planes.

Repairs show progress but pressure remains

The number of grounded aircraft is five lower than last year, which shows some repair progress. Still, the disruption remains serious. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam continues to monitor oversight, compliance, inspections, and recall processes.

Pratt and Whitney engine defects at core

The crisis centres on Pratt and Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines used on the Airbus A320neo family. Mandatory inspections began after defects were found in powder metal components produced between 2015 and 2021.

Global recalls slow recovery timelines

Airlines worldwide face the same issue, with thousands of engines recalled. Repair timelines now stretch from three to ten months. Supply chain delays and limited maintenance capacity continue to slow the return of grounded aircraft.

Vietnam Airlines and VietJet feel the hit

Vietnam Airlines has taken one of the biggest blows, earlier grounding nearly 20 percent of its domestic fleet at the peak of the crisis. Other carriers, including VietJet, have adjusted schedules and activated contingency plans.

Passenger demand continues to rise

Despite these challenges, passenger demand in Vietnam keeps growing. In 2025, airlines operated nearly 50 domestic routes and over 110 international routes, carrying more than 36 million domestic and 19 million international passengers.

Engine crisis exposes market vulnerability

Authorities expect growth to continue into 2026, even as the engine crisis is likely to persist globally until at least 2027. The situation shows how fast growing aviation markets remain exposed to global manufacturing disruptions.