Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to acquire US-made aircraft, including Boeing jets, as part of newly negotiated trade deals with the USA, while Cambodia has committed to working with Boeing to advance its aviation industry.
That is according to the administration of US President Donald Trump, which revealed the commitments on 26 October amid a visit by Trump to Malaysia.
The aerospace deals are part of broader trade agreements struck between the White House and the Southeast Asian countries. The deals throw more momentum behind Boeing and reflect the Trump administration’s ongoing eagerness to use the USA’s aerospace industry as a tool of economic diplomacy.
The USA reached a new “trade framework” with Malaysia that includes a commitment by that country covering “procurement of 30 aircraft, plus a purchase option for 30 additional aircraft”, the White House said on 26 October without mentioning Boeing.
Malaysia also agreed to purchase high-tech US products including “aerospace components”, it adds.
No Malaysian airlines currently hold unfilled orders for Boeing jets, according to Boeing’s data.
Boeing does not respond to a request for comment about the White House’s announcements.
The administration says that under a new US-Vietnam trade deal, “Vietnam Airlines has agreed to purchase 50 aircraft from Boeing”, worth some $8 billion. It is not more specific.
In September, FlightGlobal reported that Vietnam Airlines is considering both Airbus A350-900s and 787-9s as part of a plan to order 30 widebody jets. That airline now operates a mix of both types.
As part of a new US-Cambodia trade agreement, “Air Cambodia commits to working jointly with Boeing in support of Cambodia’s aviation ecosystem development and Air Cambodia’s growth”, the White House says.
Boeing does not now have any orders from customers in Cambodia, according to its data.
Additionally, the White House says Thailand has agreed to the “procurement of 80 US aircraft totalling $18.8 billion”.
Boeing’s backlog now includes unfilled orders from Thai Airways for 45 787s, including 39 -9 variants and six -10s.
