Vietnam Airlines welcomes first Dreamliner and pens deal for 16 more jets

Vietnam Airlines has celebrated the arrival of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

A major ceremony to mark the occasion was held in Washington DC this week, attended by more than 200 delegates, ministers and ambassadors, including Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party. The aircraft will be delivered to Vietnam Airlines later this month.

“Today we build on more than two decades of partnership with Vietnam Airlines and Boeing is honoured to be joined by General Secretary HE Nguyen Phu Trong on his historic first official visit to the United States,” said Boeing‘s commercial president & CEO, Ray Conner. “We are proud to celebrate Vietnam Airlines’ first 787 Dreamliner and to continue to provide them with the best airplanes in the world.”

At the event, the two companies also signed an agreement for the future expansion of Vietnam Airlines’ fleet. Boeing has offered the airline 16 new long-haul jets, including eight B787-10 Dreamliners and eight B777-8Xs, which could be turned into firm orders at a later date.

“I’m glad to introduce the very first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Vietnam Airlines, marking the start of 19 of these new aircraft to expand our fleet and operations,” said Dr Pham Viet Thanh, chairman of Vietnam Airlines. “I believe that with its state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly, safe and convenient features, the 787 will offer Vietnam Airlines’ customers new experiences and a new quality of service.”

The new B787-9 Dreamliners form part of a major revamp and expansion of Vietnam Airlines’ long-haul fleet. Along with the new Boeing aircraft, the airline recently took delivery of the first of 14 new Airbus A350s.

Vietnam Airlines will equip its B787-9s with either 274 seats in a three-class configuration or 311 seats in a two-class layout. The first aircraft will be deployed on the airline’s flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to London.