New York, September 28th 2007. Vietnam Airlines Corporation (V.A.C) would like to announce that: On the occasion of the visit and attendance of his Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung – The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the 62nd United Nations General Assembly annual meeting held in New York, the United States and under the witness of the Prime Minister, Vietnam Airlines Corporation and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company (V.A.L.C) have signed with Boeing Company a Memorandum of Understanding of a Contract whereby VAC and VALC will put an order of 12 additional and new generation Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with the state-of-the- art technology and operational cost efficiency.
The first aircraft of this deal will be delivered to Vietnam Airlines in 2015.
In the year 2005, Vietnam Airlines signed a Contract to purchase 04 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and will put these aircraft into operation in 2009 and 2010. Hence, in the year 2015 Vietnam Airlines will put into service its 20 Boeing 787-8 aircraft and this fleet will be totalled up to 28 airplanes in 2020.
In 2015, Vietnam Airlines will expectedly operate a total number of 86 aircraft and expand its fleet up to 110 aircraft in 2020. With its big investment in order to modernize its fleet with new technology operational cost efficiency and together with its service quality enhancement program, this is a premise for Vietnam Airlines to expand its route network, to improve its competitive capabilities in regional and international markets.
Taking this opportunity, Vietnam Airlines Corporation wishes to inform that together with its investment for development and expansion of route network to Europe, it is expected that in late 2008 Vietnam Airlines will launch its direct services between Ho Chi Minh City and Los Angeles with 5 frequencies per week by Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.