NEW DELHI, June 2 (Reuters) - Flag carrier Vietnam

Airlines will "very soon" finalise a provisional order

for 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets that it made in 2023, a

company executive told Reuters on Monday.

The carrier will need up to 100 new narrow-body aircraft by

2035 to expand operations and replace existing aircraft, the

executive said, declining to be named as they were not

authorised to speak with media.

Export-dependent Vietnam is under pressure from Washington

to buy more American goods to avert tariffs.

The carrier signed an initial agreement with U.S. planemaker

Boeing ( BA ) in 2023 for 50 of the firm's single-aisle 737 MAX

aircraft, but has not yet finalised the deal.

Boeing ( BA ) did not immediately respond to a request for

comment.

In April, Vietnam Airlines signed a memorandum of

understanding with the country's top lender Vietcombank for

funding to purchase 50 narrow-body planes, without naming the

manufacturer.

The executive said Vietnam Airlines would be open to

ordering Airbus aircraft if it could secure delivery

slots with the planemaker, which has previously said its

single-aisle jets are sold out through the rest of the decade.