HANOI, Aug 26 (AFP) - Vietnam Airlines is negotiating the purchase of between 10 to 15 Boeing 7E7 aircraft from the US aviation giant in a deal worth up to 1.8 billion dollars, state media said Thursday.
The Saigon Times daily quoted Boeing's sales director for the Asia-Pacific, Christopher Flint, as saying "each 7E7 will cost around 120 million US dollars."
The newspaper said the aircraft would be sold to replace the 10 Boeing 767s in the state-owned carrier's fleet, adding the first delivery of the planes was expected in 2009.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Flint said some commercial talks had started recently with Vietnam but declined to give any further details.
"We did sign a memorandum of understanding on the desire to pursue the purchase of 7E7s," he said here.
No official confirmation could be obtained Thursday.
At a symposium organised by Boeing here Tuesday, the US company said it was looking into having some aircraft components made in Vietnam within the next few years.
Vietnam Airlines announced in January plans to double its fleet by 2010 in a bid to establish itself as a major player in the region.
A year ago, Boeing had said it was expecting to sell the Vietnamese company at least 10 jets in the next six years.
Vietnam Airlines signed last May a "protocol of intention" with Airbus to purchase 10 Airbus A321 aircraft between 2006 and 2010 as part of its ambitious fleet and route expansion programme.