Vietnam Airlines Signs Contract With Airbus

Vietnam Airlines has signed a contract with Airbus for 10 A350-900 XWBs, as well as for 10 additional A321s.

This announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the aircraft in October 2007. An additional 10 A321s covered under the MoU have now been confirmed as firm orders for the new Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company, in which Vietnam Airlines is a major shareholder.

Nguyen Sy Hung, chairman of Vietnam Airlines, said: “We thoroughly reviewed the A350 XWB program, and we are very confident that this aircraft will set new standards of passenger comfort, operating economics and low emissions in our growing long-haul markets. The size of the A350-900 XWB responds very well to our expected traffic growth over the next decade.”

John Leahy, COO of customers division at Airbus, added: “Vietnam Airlines has been a strong partner for Airbus in Asia for many years and I am delighted that this relationship is now further strengthened with the airline becoming a strategic customer for the A350 XWB in the region. With orders for A321s from both Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company, Airbus is proud to be playing a central role in the continued modernization of the rapidly developing Vietnamese air transport industry.”