Vietjet, a low-cost carrier based in Vietnam, has taken a significant step toward entering the Australian domestic aviation market by registering its first Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in the country. The aircraft, designated VH-T8A, appears on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) register, with Vietjet Aviation as the registration holder and Melbourne-based Cherrie Aviation named as the registered operator. Thi Thuy Binh Nguyen, Vietjet’s vice-president and former chief commercial officer at Jetstar Pacific, serves as director of Cherrie Aviation.

Although Vietjet has not officially confirmed plans to launch domestic flights within Australia, industry observers have speculated that the airline intends to compete against the country’s dominant carriers—Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia—especially on major routes connecting Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Vietjet has applied to CASA for an aircraft operator’s certificate, a key regulatory step required to commence domestic operations.

Further indicating its intent to establish a presence in the Australian domestic market, Vietjet has secured over 2,000 slots at Sydney Airport for the upcoming northern winter season, spanning from late October 2026 through April 2027. In a statement regarding the Australian-registered aircraft, Vietjet confirmed leasing the 737 Max 8 to "an Australian entity," which is currently seeking regulatory approval to operate in Australia but declined to comment on operational specifics.

Founded in Hanoi in 2011 as Vietnam’s first privately owned airline, Vietjet has since expanded internationally, including into Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Australia. It recently announced plans to launch services from Western Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City starting January 9, 2027, and is rumored to be preparing for domestic flights in Australia potentially as early as Christmas 2026, with expectations of deploying a fleet of ten Boeing 737 aircraft. Vietjet’s current fleet exceeds 100 aircraft, predominantly Airbus A320s and A330s. The airline is majority-owned by billionaire chief executive and president Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and is publicly traded on the Ho Chi Minh City stock exchange.

The Australian domestic market has historically been challenging for new entrants, dominated by Qantas and Virgin Australia, which collectively hold more than 98 percent of market share. Recent attempts by other carriers to establish a foothold have faltered; in 2024, Rex grounded its major city operations after entering administration, and budget carrier Bonza also ceased operations earlier that year. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has expressed skepticism about the market’s capacity to sustain three major competitors, citing Australia’s relatively small and dispersed population compared to larger markets like the United States.

In addition to Vietjet, two other prospective Australian carriers, Koala Airlines led by Bill Astling and Zinc under Peter Kelly, are in early development stages but have yet to register aircraft with CASA or secure operating certificates for domestic routes. The entry of Vietjet, if realised, would mark a notable development in the country’s aviation sector, introducing international competition to established domestic routes.