Vietnam Airlines to Purchase Four New Boeing Jets

Vietnam Airlines to Purchase Four New Boeing Jets

Vietnam’s national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has got approval of the government to purchase four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner jets, at a total cost of US$500 million.

The airline is asked to further negotiate the deal with the US giant Boeing group and discuss the plan carefully with relevant ministries and agencies. It is also instructed to secure a loan from the Commercial Joint Stock Export and Import Bank (Exim Bank) to buy the aircraft.

The deal is expected to be signed during Vietnam Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to the US in this month, three months later than the initial plan due to complicated procedures.

The wide-body jetliners are scheduled for delivery to Vietnam Airlines in 2010 as part of Vietnam Airlines’ plan to expand its international traffic network.

The 787-8 Dreamliner, a mid-sized passenger airliner, which is able to travel up to 15,700 km non-stop, will carry between 200 and 350 passengers in three classes and cruise at around 850 km an hour, despite using 20 per cent less fuel than other similarly-sized jets.

The new Boeing jetliners will make up VNA’s entire long-range fleet, comprising six 777-200Ers and four 767-300Ers.

The airline plans to expand its fleet to 49 aircraft by the end of this year and up to 75 by 2010. Currently, it is operating 40 aircraft, including eight Boeing 777s, Four Boeing 767s, ten Airbus A320s and seven Airbus A321s.

In late December 2004, Vietnam Airlines signed a contract with leading aircraft maker Airbus to buy 10 narrow-body A321 aircraft as part of its aircraft fleet expansion program.

VNS, Saigon Times Daily