Ten more A 321 Planes to be Purchased

Ten more A 321 Planes to be Purchased

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai approved a plan to develop the flight fleet in the 2005 and 2010 period of Vietnam Airlines, adopting a project on buying ten more A 321 planes from Airbus, allowing further negotiations on the implementation of an agreement signed between Vietnam Airlines and Airbus during the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 5). Also, the prime minister has agreed on principle on a project to buy four more B7E7-8 planes from Boeing.

According to the prime minister’s evaluation, the 2001-2005 five year plan to develop the flight fleet of Vietnam Airlines has achieved good results. So far, the fleet has three more ATR 72-500, four B777-200ER and five A321-200 planes with a total investment of US$700 million, which has helped improve the capacity and prestige of Vietnam Airlines, exploiting high economic effectiveness and contributing to the development of tourism and other economic sectors. The prime minister has set a target of a fleet with 73 planes of all kind. A target of a growth rate of 20 per cent per year is a ‘realistic and prospective’ target.   

Also, the prime minister has assigned the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority to consider the upgrading of existing airports and the building of new airports, as well as the opening of new domestic and international flight routes. He has provided guidelines on an early upgrading of the Son La and Can Tho airports.

• KP