Vietnam Airlines
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Founded | 15 January 1956 (as Vietnam Civil Aviation) Long Biên district, Hanoi, Vietnam | ||||||
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Key people | |||||||
Employees | 6,000 (2023) | ||||||
Website | www |
Vietnam Airlines (
From its inception until the early 1990s, Vietnam Airlines was a minor carrier within the aviation industry as it was hampered by a variety of factors including the socio-economic and political situation of the country. With the government's normalization of relations with the United States, the airline was able to expand, improve its products and services, and modernize its ageing fleet. In 1996, the Vietnamese government brought together 20 service companies to form Vietnam Airlines Corporation, with the airline itself as the centrepiece. In 2010, the corporation was restructured into a limited liability company and renamed Vietnam Airlines Company Limited. A seven-seat management board, members of which are appointed by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, oversees the company.[10]
As passenger transport constitutes its core activity, Vietnam Airlines plays a crucial role in the economic development of the country. It owns 100% of
Vietnam Airlines became a member of SkyTeam in June 2010, making it the first Southeast Asian carrier to have joined that alliance. As of September 2021,[update] the State's stake in Vietnam Airlines is 86.34%, All Nippon Airways holds 5.62%, being a strategic shareholder of the national flag carrier.[12][13]
History
Beginnings
Vietnam Airlines has its origins in January 1956,
The airline's development and expansion was seriously hampered by the Vietnam War (1954–1975).[19] Following the war, its first international destination was Beijing, followed by Vientiane in 1976.[20] During that year, the airline was known as General Department of Civil Aviation in Vietnam, and began full operations; it carried around 21,000 passengers, one-third of whom were on international flights, and 3,000 tonnes (6,600,000 lb) of cargo.[14] In 1978, another important destination of Vietnam Airlines was added, with flights offered to Bangkok.[20] The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the expansion of the network to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore.[20]
In 1990, the company initiated discussions regarding the incorporation of Western-built aircraft into the fleet.
In October 1992, the
New enterprise: 1993–2006
The airline became the flag carrier of Vietnam in 1993, after having completed a restructuring programme that was started four years earlier. In that year, the airline split from the
In February 1994,
In September 1996, Vietnam Airlines started offering
A new livery was introduced in early 1998, initially unveiled on a Boeing 767.[42] In December 2001, Vietnam Airlines signed a historic agreement with
In June 2005, Vietnam Airlines ordered four Boeing 787-8s.[50] Twelve additional 787-8s were ordered in late 2007, some of them to be directly acquired from the company, and the rest to be purchased by the carrier's subsidiary Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company (VALC).[51][52][53] These new aircraft were to allow Vietnam Airlines to expand its network and replace some leased aircraft.[54] Regarding the delays from Boeing, CEO Pham Ngoc Minh remarked in September 2009, "We are not happy about the constant delays. It affects our business plan. We expected to get our planes in 2009, then 2010, and now nobody can confirm to us which is the exact delivery date. I can be patient but it gives us a lot of headaches."[55] In 2010 the airline switched its Boeing 787 order from the –8 to the –9 model, stating that 787-8s did not meet all the requirements Boeing initially promised; it is expected the airline will receive its first aircraft of the type in 2015.[56]
On 20 June 2005, the airline launched direct services to Frankfurt after having discontinued services to Berlin. It came after the 2004–2005 period when travel between the two countries soared 70%.[57][58] The following year, Vietnam Airlines was admitted into IATA.[59][60] As part of the move, Vietnam Airlines had to meet the association's IOSA safety standards.[61]
Expansion: 2007–current
According to a number of newspaper reports in 2007, the
On 1 October 2007, the airline and VALC signed a
Vietnam was chosen as the host of Miss World's 60th contest in 2008. As the country's national airline, Vietnam Airlines was selected as the sponsoring airline for the beauty pageant.[72] Therefore, it was tasked the job of managing all the transport matters for the contest, to be carried out during September and October, just before the beginning of the competition. However, it was later decided to carry out the event in Sanya, China, following speculations of Vietnam withdrawing.[73] In August 2008 , Vietnam Airlines added Nagoya, the airline's fourth point served in Japan besides Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo, to the route network.[74]
In 2009, Vietnam Airlines and the
On 26 August 2010, the airline teamed up with Boeing during the unveiling of its interior modernization programme to increase passenger comfort.[83] From late September to early October, Vietnam Airlines discounted up to 85% of its 90,000 fares to celebrate Thang Long-Hanoi's 1000th anniversary.[84] In November 2010, the airline awarded Honeywell a US$100 million contract to retrofit the Airbus A321s' aircraft flight systems, which is calculated to save Vietnam Airlines US$10,000 per aircraft per year.[85][86]
In January 2011, plans were announced by the airline to re-initiate an
In February 2012, Vietnam Airlines boosted its stake in the low-cost carrier
Vietnam Airlines received its first
Corporate affairs and identity
Subsidiaries | |
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Website | www |
Vietnam Airlines Company Limited was a
When Vietnam Airlines wholly owned Pacific Airlines after Jetstar's withdrawal of stakes in this low-cost carrier, the Corporation has started to use the term Vietnam Airlines Group to refer a group consisting of three airlines owned by Vietnam Airlines including Vietnam Airlines (itself), Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company.[131]
Training
In 2009, the airline, Airbus and
Financial performance
Vietnam Airlines has enjoyed an average of 37% increase in passengers flown per year until 1997, when the Asian Financial Crisis and other contributing causes led to a loss in profits for the airline. Nevertheless, the airline remained profitable throughout the crisis. In 1996, the airline carried 2.5 million passengers, up 18% from 1995.[135] The airline carried more than 4 million passengers in 2002, which is an 18% increase over the previous year.[136] Its cargo traffic also climbed 20% during the same period, resulting in a 2002 profit of US$35.77 million.[136]
Despite the
Vietnam Airlines held about 40% of the market share of international passengers flying to and from Vietnam in February 2012.[142] At the time, Vietnam Airlines controlled 77% share of the domestic aviation market, with 14% covered by Jetstar Pacific.[142] As of December 2012, Vietnam Airlines controlled just below 70% of the domestic market share.[94]
In July 2021, it was announced that Vietnam Airlines employees can buy 70 million shares as strategic shareholder
Subsidiaries and affiliates
Vietnam Airlines Group has at least 20 subsidiaries and affiliates.[144] By the end of its restructuring in 2015, the company will have offloaded its stakes in more than 10 enterprises.[145]
Company | Type | Principal activities | Incorporated in |
Group's equity shareholding |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vietnam Air Service Company[146] |
Subsidiary | Passenger transport | Vietnam | 100% |
Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company[146] | Subsidiary | Aircraft maintenance | Vietnam | 100% |
Vietnam Airlines Caterers | Subsidiary | Catering | Vietnam | 100%[147] |
NoiBai Catering Services | Subsidiary | Catering | Vietnam | 100% |
Pacific Airlines[148] | Subsidiary | Passenger transport | Vietnam | 98%[148] |
Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company[149] | Joint venture | Aircraft leasing | Vietnam | 20%[150] |
Aircraft maintenance and production
Vietnam Airlines is increasingly becoming involved in the
In addition to its self maintenance facilities, Vietnam Airlines also has maintenance contracts with other airlines and maintenance organisations.[152]: 93
There are currently no production facilities in Vietnam for aircraft and
Destinations
Vietnam Airlines has a network within Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.[156] With about 300 daily flights,[157] the airline flies to 21 destinations domestically, and to 43 internationally.[158] In addition, it has codeshare agreements with a number of airlines for other routes, some of which span to North America.
Tết flights
Vietnam Airlines have traditionally increased flights among Vietnamese cities to cater for the heavy demands brought by the annual
Alliances
Vietnam Airlines joined the SkyTeam airline alliance on 10 June 2010.[162][163]
Vietnam Airlines codeshares with the following airlines:[164][165][166]
- Aeroflot[167]
- Air Europa
- Air France
- All Nippon Airways
- Bangkok Airways[168]
- Cambodia Angkor Air
- Cathay Pacific[169]
- China Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- China Southern Airlines[170]
- Czech Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- El Al[171]
- Etihad Airways[172]
- Finnair
- Garuda Indonesia[173]
- ITA Airways[174]
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Lao Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
- Pacific Airlines
- Philippine Airlines
- Qantas
- Saudia
- SNCF (Railway)
- TAROM
- Turkish Airlines[175]
- XiamenAir
- VASCO (Subsidiary)
- Virgin Atlantic[176]
Fleet
Current
As of September 2023[update], Vietnam Airlines operates the following aircraft:[177][178][179]
Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passenger | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | W | Y | Total | ||||
Airbus A320neo
|
— | 5 | TBA | At least 2 aircraft were not taken up and transferred to Volaris.[180] 3 aircraft will be delivered during the second half of 2024.[181] | |||
Airbus A321-200
|
48 | — | 16 | — | 162 | 178 | One aircraft painted in SkyTeam livery.[182] Older aircraft to be retired by late 2023.[183] |
16 | 168 | 184 | |||||
8 | 195 | 203 | |||||
Airbus A321neo | 20 | — | 8 | — | 195 | 203[184] | |
Airbus A350-900
|
14 | — | 29 | 45 | 231 | 305 | |
36 | 240 | 305 | |||||
Boeing 737 MAX 8
|
— | 50 | TBA | ||||
Boeing 787-9
|
11 | — | 28 | 35 | 211 | 274[185] | |
— | 283 | 311 | |||||
Boeing 787-10
|
4 | 4 | 24 | — | 343 | 367[186] | 2 aircraft are expected to be delivered in April and June of 2024.[187] |
Vietnam Airlines Cargo fleet | |||||||
Airbus A321-200/P2F
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— | 2 | Cargo | Deliveries will start from 2023.[188] | |||
Total | 97 | 61 |
Previously operated
Since its conception in 1956, the airline has operated a wide range of aircraft, including Soviet, American, and European aircraft. Having retired all Soviet-made planes, the airline currently uses Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Vietnam Airlines had operated the following aircraft throughout its history:[189]
- Aero Ae-45
- Airbus A300-600
- Airbus A300B4
- Airbus A310-200
- Airbus A310-300
- Airbus A320-200
- Airbus A321-100
- Airbus A330-200[190]
- Airbus A330-300
- Airbus A340-200
- Antonov An-2
- Antonov An-24
- Antonov An-30
- ATR 72-200[191]
- ATR 72-500[citation needed]
- Boeing 707-320
- Boeing 707-320B
- Boeing 707-320C
- Boeing 727-200
- Boeing 737-300
- Boeing 767-200ER
- Boeing 767-300ER
- Boeing 777-200ER[192]
- Douglas DC-3
- Douglas DC-4
- Douglas DC-6
- Fokker 70[193]
- Ilyushin Il-14G
- Ilyushin Il-18
- Lisunov Li-2[194]
- Tupolev Tu-134A
- Tupolev Tu-134B
- Yakovlev Yak-40[195]
Services
Entertainment
On flights operated using
Cabins
- Business
Business class is the highest of three cabin classes offered by the airline. As is the case with business class cabins in most airlines, the amenities offered in this class are substantially different from economy class, and more services and products are available. On Airbus A321s, recliner seats are offered, laid out in a 2-2 configuration. The seat offers 45 inch of pitch, 10 degree of recline as well as foot and leg rest. On Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s, lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration are offered. A 15.4 inch entertainment screen is available on the two aircraft. Seats are arranged in a reverse herringbone configuration on Boeing 787 and staggered seating is available on Airbus A350. Refreshments are offered on flights over 90 minutes, with hot meals available on flights that are longer than two hours.[197]
- Premium Economy
Vietnam Airlines'
- Economy
Economy class is available on all flights operated by Vietnam Airlines. Seats in this cabin feature seats 81 cm (32 in) in width.[199] Seat pitch on this cabin class is 31–32 in (79–81 cm), while seat recline ranges from 6 to 13°(5-6 inches). Refreshments are offered on flights over 90 minutes, with hot meals available on flights that are longer than two hours.[200]
Lotusmiles
Lotusmiles (stylized as LotuSmiles) is the airlines' frequent flyer program.[201] The program consisted of 5 tiers (Silver, Titanium, Gold, Platinum and Million Miler) with benefits varied between tiers.[202] Membership in this program is free, and members can earn miles in different ways (flying in carriers within Vietnam Airlines Group, SkyTeam carriers and carriers partnered with Vietnam Airlines based on distance and seating class, daily shopping with co-branded credit cards, using partners' services such as Booking.com or direct payments).[203][204] Accumulated miles can be redeemable to buy tickets and items at Lotusmall or exchange for vouchers for Vingroup services.[205]
Accidents and incidents
According to
See also
Footnotes
- Flightglobal informed the carrier also had three Boeing 767s in the fleet, two of them leased from AWAS and the other one from Region Air.[29]
References
- ^ a b "Profile on Vietnam Airlines". Centre for Aviation. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Airline Membership". International Air Transport Association. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "JO 7340.2G Contractions" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 5 January 2017. p. 3-1-49. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Lịch sử phát triển ngành Hàng không dân dụng Việt Nam". Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (in Vietnamese). 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Lotusmiles". Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Vietnam Airlines on ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Ông Lê Hồng Hà làm tổng giám đốc Vietnam Airlines từ 1-1-2021". tuoitre.vn/ (in Vietnamese). 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Vietnam Airlines có chủ tịch mới". VNExpress (in Vietnamese). 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Schofield, Adrian (3 January 2019). "Vietnam Airlines Group maintains profitability in 2018". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019.
- ^ JSTOR 4353462.
- ^ "Vietnam Airlines JSC Report of Administration". Vietnam Airlines – Investor Relations. 17 January 2023.
- ^ "HVN : Vietnam Airlines JSC | Major stakeholders". CafeF (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Ngoc Thuy. "Vietnam Airlines issues US$350-million shares for stakeholders". Hanoitimes – Economic and Urban Newspaper. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Vietnam Airlines". Vinafour. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
- ^ Alwyn-Jones, John (14 October 2010). "Vietnam Airlines offers world class service". e-Travel Blackboard. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012.
- ^ Chi, Nguyen (December 2001). "A Strategy for the Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration (VCAA) to Promote US-Vietnam Bilateral Civil Aviation Agreement" (PDF). Institute for Trade & Commercial Diplomacy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2012.
- ^ "L'aviation civile vietnamienne" [The Vietnamese civil aviation] (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2012.
- ^ Buckley, Michael. "Flying Ghosts". VeloAsia. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012.
- ^ ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the originalon 3 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "History of Vietnam Airlines". Vietnam Airlines. Archived from the original on 24 March 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. *"The Last Frontier". Flight International: 27. Archived from the originalon 9 July 2014.
Vietnam Airlines has cancelled plans to buy two Airbus A310s because of a US trade embargo on the country, a Vietnamese Government official has said in Hanoi. The A310 uses US engines.
The carrier would like one or two more Boeing 767s. It already operates three 767s, two of which are leased from Ansett (AWAS) and one from Region Air.
Vietnam Airlines yesterday signed a firm agreement with Boeing to purchase four 787-8s at a signing ceremony in Washington.
Boeing finalized Dubai Aerospace Enterprise's 100-aircraft order valued at $10.9 billion and also officially completed a $2 billion order for 12 787-8s from Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co., pushing its total 2007 commercial aircraft orders to well over 1,300, a single-year record.
Air Lease Corp. (ALC) has purchased eight Boeing 787-9s, which it will lease to Vietnam Airlines, the lessor announced Monday.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
In its Decision 952/QD-TTg dated 23 June 2010, the Government says it still owns Vietnam Airlines Company Limited (Vietnam Airlines), which is headquartered at 200 Nguyen Son Street in Long Bien District, Hanoi City.
HEAD OFFICE: GIALAM AIRPORT, HANOI 10.000, VIETNAM.
VIETNAM AIRLINES [VN] (HVN) Gialem Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Etihad Airways has announced a codeshare agreement with Vietnam Airlines (VN), effective Oct. 30. The agreement will allow Etihad's passengers to connect through Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi on VN's daily services. VN passengers will be able to connect through Bangkok to Etihad's base in Abu Dhabi.
External links
- Official website
- Vietnam Airlines Cargo Services Archived 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- "Vietnam Airlines pre-IPO outlook: rapid growth as 787s & A350s arrive, but competition intensifies". Centre for Aviation. 1 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014.