Vietnam Airlines gets funds for new aircraft
Play
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has signed a credit loan contract in Hanoi with Eximbank to purchase a fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft (B787).
Under the terms of the US$100 million (Bt3 billion) deal, Eximbank will lend the airline money to purchase eight planes. This is the second collaboration project between the two parties with the aim of increasing the transport capacity of the national carrier.
According to Pham Ngoc Minh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, the first aircraft will be received in the second quarter of 2015 and supplement its current 19 Boeing 787s as the carrier gradually replaces its Airbus A320 fleet, which has been in operation for more than 10 years.
He said that the investment would help Vietnam Airlines stabilise its operations, maintain its service quality and open up more air routes to meet the rising demands of customers.
Last year, Vietnam Airlines and Eximbank signed another $100 million credit deal to be spent on four new Airbus A320 aircraft, which have already been delivered.
Vietnam Airlines is now operating 80 air routes, with over 300 flights connecting 20 domestic and 26 international destinations.
It plans to expand its fleet to 115 by 2015 and 170 by 2020.
Vietnam Airlines plans to add 391 flights on domestic routes from April 26 to May 2 to meet the high demand for travel during the upcoming Liberation Day (April 30) and May Day holidays.
In addition, the airline plans to add 43 more flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong.
