Vietnam Airlines plans to boost post-pandemic revenue with $5M aircraft auction.

Vietnam Airlines, the nation's state-owned carrier, has disclosed plans to auction off three Airbus A321ceo narrow-body aircraft at a starting bid of $5 million each within the current quarter. The aircraft, manufactured in 2007, are stationed at Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

In 2020, the carrier previously sold five Airbus A321 aircraft, each fetching a price of $7.4 million. This latest sale is part of Vietnam Airlines' ongoing fleet restructuring strategy, aimed at augmenting its post-pandemic revenue streams.

As per the aviation data from Planespotters, the airline's fleet presently comprises 94 aircraft, with 65 A321 jets, boasting an average age of slightly over 9 years.

Despite the pandemic's challenges, Vietnam Airlines demonstrated considerable resilience. The carrier catered to more than 10 million passengers in the first half of this year, marking a 23.6% increase on a year-on-year basis. Moreover, its revenue swelled to just over $1.91 billion, nearly a 50% increase, mirroring the earnings level of 2019.