Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines
Hãng hàng không Quốc gia Việt Nam

IATA ICAO Call sign VN[1][2] HVN[1][2] VIET NAM AIRLINES[3]
Founded	15 January 1956; 68 years ago (1956-01-15) (as Vietnam Civil Aviation)[4]
Hubs	Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City
Secondary hubs	Da Nang
Focus cities	Phnom Penh Siem Reap
Frequent-flyer program	Lotusmiles[5]
Alliance	SkyTeam SkyTeam Cargo
Subsidiaries	Pacific Airlines Vietnam Air Services Company Vietnam Airlines Caterers Vietnam Airlines Cargo Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company
Fleet size	93
Destinations	66[6]
Parent company	Vietnam Airlines JSC
Headquarters	200 Nguyễn Sơn, Bồ Đề ward, Long Biên district, Hanoi, Vietnam
Key people	Lê Hồng Hà (President & CEO)[7] Đặng Ngọc Hoà (Chairman)[8]
Employees	6,500 (2023)[citation needed]
Website	www.vietnamairlines.com

Vietnam Airlines (Vietnamese: Hãng hàng không Quốc gia Việt Nam, lit. 'Vietnam National Airlines') is the flag carrier of Vietnam.^[9] The airline was founded in 1956 and later established as a state-owned enterprise in April 1989. Vietnam Airlines is headquartered in Long Biên district, Hanoi, with hubs at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. The airline flies 117 routes across 19 countries, excluding codeshared services.^[6]

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 could 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, 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 Air Service Company – a regional airline in southern Vietnam and almost 99% of the low-cost carrier Pacific Airlines.^[11] In addition, the corporation earns revenue from airline catering and the maintenance and overhauling of aircraft through a number of its subsidiaries, including Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company and Vietnam Airlines Caterers. The company has also diversified its investments in the aircraft-leasing and airport ground-servicing industries, and is looking to manufacture aircraft components. It controls and operates a cargo division, Vietnam Airlines Cargo.

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]

Vietnam Airlines has its origins in January 1956,^[14][15] when it was established by the North Vietnamese government under the name Vietnam Civil Aviation (Vietnamese: Hàng không Việt Nam, lit. 'Vietnam Aviation') following the nationalization of Gia Lam Airport. It was instituted after the government signed the Decree No. 666/TTg.^[16] The airline was created as part of the air force for civilian purposes with support from both the Soviet Union and China; initially, its fleet consisted of two Lisunov Li-2s that were later replaced by two Ilyushin Il-14 and three Aero Ae-45s.^[17] This was due to an embargo that prohibited the airline from leasing and/or buying American technology or components.^[18]

The airline's development and expansion was seriously hampered by the Vietnam War (1955–1975).^[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.^[21] Later that year, however, the carrier had to cancel the acquisition of two Airbus A310s due to their use of US-manufactured engines.^[22] By July 1991, the airline struck a wet-lease agreement with Dutch lessor TransAvia. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-300, that arrived in Vietnam Airlines' livery. However, the aircraft was returned after the U.S. State Department pressured the Dutch lessor to remove the aircraft from Vietnam. Subsequently, Vietnam Airlines organized a similar but more complicated deal with TEA Basle, who spent the rest of 1991 negotiating a deal with US authorities. Eventually, a solution stating that "[the Boeing 737] must be positioned outside Vietnam, with no logo or lettering of Vietnam Airlines. On these conditions, it could operate on behalf of Vietnam Airlines" was reached.^[21]: 26 In December 1991, Cathay Pacific and Vietnam Airlines agreed on a 50–50 joint venture to operate between Hong Kong and Vietnam, as the airline's Tupolev Tu-134 fleet did not meet Kai Tak Airport's noise restrictions.^[23]

In October 1992, the Boeing 737 was supplemented with an Airbus A310.^[21]: 26 However, a dispute with Bulgarian Jes Air over who should pay for the repairs after the aircraft sustained an engine failure led to its replacement with another A310 from GATX, also operated by Jes Air.^{[21]: 26–27} A similar dispute with United Technologies encouraged the airline to switch from Airbus to Boeing. Hence, a Boeing 767-200ER, leased from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (AWAS), arrived in January 1993, and a Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767-300ER, arrived the following year.^[21] In October 1993, the first Airbus A320-200 was incorporated over a two-year wet-lease contract with Air France.^[24] Vietnam Airlines by now had started discussions with Air France about a partnership, and the French carrier agreed to lease its Airbuses to Vietnam Airlines, and also to provide customer support and pilot/crew training.^{[19]: 31 [21][25]} By that time the route network had further expanded internationally, seeing the incorporation of destinations such as Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney, and Melbourne.^[20] In 1993, the airline carried 1.06 million passengers, 418,000 of whom were on international flights.^[26]

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 Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) and became a state enterprise.^{[10][19]: 30 [28]} The move was similar to the reorganization of the Chinese CAAC Airlines into several regional airlines in 1987. Even though the airline gained some independence from the CAAV, it was still known as Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam within the 1993–1996 period.^[21]

In February 1994, US President Bill Clinton lifted the trade embargo to allow Vietnam Airlines the ability to acquire Western-built aircraft.^[21]: 26 Consequently, Vietnam Airlines announced in April of the same year that it would be phasing out its inefficient Soviet planes.^[24] By April 1995, the fleet consisted of nine Airbus A320s (all of them leased from Air France), 11 Antonov An-24s, four ATR72s, two Boeing 707-300s, three Ilyushin Il-18s, nine Tupolev Tu-134s and three Yakovlev Yak-40s;^{[nb 1]} at this time the route network comprised 14 domestic destinations (including Ban Me Thuot, Da Nang, Dien Bien Phu, Hue, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Pleiku) and 16 international destinations (including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore).^[30]: 80 On 27 May 1995 (1995-05-27),^[31] the airline, along with a number of other aviation-related businesses, were incorporated to establish Vietnam Airlines Corporation.^[32] Two Fokker 70s were purchased in mid-1995 for US$50 million;^[33] they were aimed at partly replacing the Tu-134 fleet on domestic routes as well as at serving as VIP transport.^[34] In December 1995, discussions with GECAS for the lease of three additional, second-hand Boeing 767-300ERs were under way; these ex-Continental Airlines aircraft would act as a replacement for wet-leased Boeing 767 aircraft (three -300ERs and one -200ER leased from AWAS and Royal Brunei) in the fleet.^[35]

In September 1996, Vietnam Airlines started offering business class services and in 1999, the airline launched its frequent-flyer program, Golden Lotus Plus;^[36] During 1996, Vietnam Airlines looked for aircraft which would substitute the A320s wet-leased from Air France when the deal was over. Apart from acquiring further A320s, the airline considered Boeing 737s and McDonnell Douglas MD-90s.^[37] In February 1996 (1996-02), GECAS delivered the first of three Boeing 767-300ER to the carrier, on dry-lease for five years.^[38] In October the same year, two Boeing 767-300ERs and a Boeing 767-200, on lease from AWAS and Royal Brunei Airlines, respectively, were returned to the lessors, but in early 1997 another Boeing 767-300ER was phased in on a one-year lease from AWAS.^[39] With its freedom to operate Western-built aircraft, Vietnam Airlines considered the acquisition of long-haul aircraft to better service Vietnamese living overseas. The Airbus A340, Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 were topics of discussion.^[37] Meanwhile, two Fokker 70s were acquired in May and July to replace the twelve Tupolev Tu-134s.^{[19]: 31 [40]} On 3 September 1997, the crash of a Tupolev Tu-134B, on approach to Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport in bad weather, resulted in more than 60 fatalities.^[41]

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 Boeing for the acquisition of its first ever US-built aircraft, signalling the start of trade under the Bilateral Trade Agreement between the two countries.^[43] The deal involved four Boeing 777-200ERs.^[44][45] The transaction was valued at US$680 million; the first aircraft was initially scheduled for delivery in 2003.^[43] These four aircraft, along with six others of the same type that are leased from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), are the flagships of the airline, and serve on medium and long-haul routes, respectively.^{[46][needs update]} During that year, the airline carried 3.4 million passengers, 1.9 million of whom were on domestic flights; flights to Beijing resumed and services to Kunming were launched.^[20][26] During 2002, Vietnam Airlines considered a lease offer from Airbus for two Airbus A340-300s.^[47] On 4 September 2003, a landmark ceremony celebrated the airline's receipt of its first Boeing 777-200ER purchased outright from Boeing.^[48] On 28 October, the airline decided to move its operations in Moscow from Sheremetyevo International Airport to Domodedovo International Airport.^[49]

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 in 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 was expected that the airline would 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]

According to several newspaper reports in 2007, the Vietnamese government planned to partly privatize Vietnam Airlines.^[62] In the plan, the government considered selling 20–30% of the airline's stake to outsiders, with the government holding the balance. This was a small part of a bigger proposal by the government to privatize its state-owned companies, due to be completed by 2010.^[63] Vietnam authorized the plan the following year; however, the plan was not carried out as the airline missed its deadline scheduled by the government, which was arranged for 2010, due to the Great Recession.^{[64][65][66][67]}

On 1 October 2007, the airline and VALC signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of ten Airbus A350 XWBs, and 20 additional Airbus A321s.^[68][69] The Airbus A350s will supplement the Boeing 787s already ordered by the airline.^[69] This single order will result in Vietnam Airlines becoming one of the largest Airbus operators in Asia.^[70] The two companies also ordered five extra ATR 72-500s in December 2007.^[71]

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 (2008-08), 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 Government of Cambodia established a joint-venture, having 49% and 51% stockholding, respectively,^[75] with the goal of boosting tourism in Cambodia.^[76][77] The joint-venture was a new Cambodian national airline named Cambodia Angkor Air, which started flying in July the same year,^[78] using ATR-72 aircraft;^[75] an Airbus A321 joined the fleet in September.^[77] Also in 2009, the carrier signed a deal for another 16 Airbus A321s plus two Airbus A350s, during the Paris Air Show.^[79][80] In addition, Vietnam Airlines launched a new bilingual website in October to simplify bookings^[81] and adopted a new passenger service system designed by IT provider Sabre Airline Solutions.^[82]

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 initial public offering (IPO) by the end of 2012;^[87] an earlier attempt was stalled by the 2007–2008 financial crisis.^{[citation needed]} Scheduled for mid-2014 after several delays,^[88] the IPO and subsequent share-offerings will supply the funds to expand Vietnam Airlines' fleet and network.^[89][90] With the company valued at US$1.5 billion, the government plans to initially keep 75% of the shares.^[91] The IPO plan was submitted to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport in June 2014.^[92] Scheduled to commence on 14 November 2014, the IPO received two submissions from foreign companies, but their names have not been disclosed.^[93] The corporation was scheduled to be restructured by 2015 to bring it in line with other state-owned enterprises and to shift its focus away from non-core businesses. Following restructuring, the airline group will consist of Vietnam Airlines itself, as well as three carriers; in total, the corporation will comprise 26 independently audited companies.^[94]

In February 2012, Vietnam Airlines boosted its stake in the low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines to 70%, with Qantas holding the balance.^[95][96][97] The Vietnamese flag carrier was the major shareholder in Vietnam's second largest airline, but its stake had been transferred to the Ministry of Finance, and subsequently to the Vietnamese State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).^[98] The carrier's takeover of SCIC's stake in Jetstar Pacific will capitalise the low-cost carrier with US$27 million, an amount that will be directed towards fleet renewal.^[95] In late April 2012, the aircraft lessor ALC announced the placement of an order for eight Boeing 787-9s, which will be leased to Vietnam Airlines; deliveries are expected to start in 2017.^[99] In late May 2012, the carrier signed an agreement with Vietnam's Eximbank for a loan worth US$100 million, which the carrier will use to finance the acquisition of four Airbus A321s; a further US$100 million was loaned in April 2013 to finance the purchase of eight Boeing 787s.^[100][101] In a deal valued at US$1.7 billion, Vietnam Airlines signed a contract with General Electric in October 2013 for 40 engines to power the Boeing 787 aircraft the airline had on order.^[102][103]

In July 2014, a new route to Tokyo-Haneda from Hanoi was introduced.^[104][105]

Vietnam Airlines received its first Airbus A350-900 in late June 2015, becoming the second operator of the type worldwide after Qatar Airways.^{[106][107][108]} In August 2015 (2015-08), the airline's first Boeing 787-9 entered the fleet.^[109][110] In November 2018, the carrier received its first Airbus A321neo.^{[111][112][113]} Vietnam Airlines' participation in Cambodia Angkor Airlines ended in April 2020 when all the shares were sold to an undisclosed buyer, while acquiring all Qantas's stake in Jetstar Pacific, eventually rebranding the carrier as Pacific Airlines in the same year.^[114][115] In November 2021, Vietnam Airlines started its first direct non-stop service to the United States, from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco.^[116]

Vietnam Airlines JSC

Native name	Tổng Công Ty Hàng Không Việt Nam - CTCP (lit. 'Vietnam Airlines Corporation - JSC')
Company type	Government-owned Joint-stock company
Traded as	HOSE: HVN[117]
Industry	Airline industry
Founded	1996 (with roots tracing back to 1954)
Headquarters	Long Bien District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Area served	Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania
Key people	Dang Ngoc Hoa (Chairman) Le Hong Ha (President & CEO) [118]
Services	Aircraft maintenance and overhaul, catering, cargo and passenger transport
Revenue	40,613 billion VNĐ[119] (2020)
Net income	-4.97 trillion VNĐ [$216 million][120] (1Q2021)
Owner	Government of Vietnam
Number of employees	18,641[121] (2021)
Parent	Government of Vietnam (86.34%)[122] Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (55.2%) State Capital Investment Corporation (31.14%) ANA Holdings (5.62%)
Subsidiaries	Pacific Airlines Vietnam Air Service Co.
Website	www.vietnamairlines.com

Vietnam Airlines Company Limited was a limited liability company wholly owned by the government of Vietnam, having been restructured from Vietnam Airlines Corporation in June 2010 and then formally became Vietnam Airlines Joint Stock Company in 2015, which is considered as a "exceptional milestone" by the airline.^{[123][124][125][126][117]: 5} Its role is to provide economic gains to the country, as its tasks, in addition to scheduled passenger and cargo transport, include "responsibility towards labor, contribution to the state budget, and providing chartered flights", according to former CEO Dao Manh Nhung.^[10] The airline is headed and overseen by a seven-seat management team, members of which are selected by the Prime Minister of Vietnam.^[10] As of September 2022, Dang Ngoc Hoa is the chairman of the company, whereas Le Hong Ha is the president and CEO.^[118] As of December 2019, the workforce of the Group numbered 21,255 employees with Vietnam Airlines itself employing 6,409 people.^[127] The airline is headquartered in the Long Bien District of Hanoi;^[128] previously it was headquartered at Gia Lam Airport in Gia Lam, Hanoi.^[129][130]

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]

In 2009, the airline, Airbus and ESMA Aviation Academy created Bay Viet Flight Training Company to train pilots in the country, with the expectation that up to 100 trainees would graduate annually.^[132] In October 2010, the company planned to train 60 pilots in Vietnam during 2011–2012. In 2010, Vietnam Airlines needed 636 pilots, 60% of whom were Vietnamese. It planned to raise that figure it to 75% by 2015, meaning there will be at least 100 recruits each year from 2010 until 2015.^[133] Vietnam Airlines also contracts CAE Global Academy Phoenix in Arizona, United States, to train its cadets.^[134]

Vietnam Airlines enjoyed an average of 37% increase in passengers flown per year the 1997 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 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, the airline posted a US$26.2 million profit for 2003. In 2006, it carried 6.8 million passengers (3.7 million international) and earned revenue of nearly US$1.37 billion (first 11 months). Vietnam Airlines carried more than 9 million passengers, of which 4 million were international travellers in 2007, the year which saw the airline earning a gross profit of US$23 million from a revenue of US$1.23 billion. It also transported 115,100 tonnes of cargo.^[137][138] In 2009, the airline's revenue was US$1.3 billion, compared to US$1.56 billion it earned the previous year. During this period, Vietnam Airlines carried 9.3 million passengers.^[139] According to Anna.aero, Vietnam Airlines' passenger capacity for 2010 rose 30% over the same period of the previous year. This also coincided with the increase in capacity at Vietnamese airports, at 21%.^[140] In 2012, the company's total revenue totalled US$2.4 billion, with profits totalling US$3.3 million.^[94] The following year, the carrier posted a US$25 million gross profit.^[141]

Vietnam Airlines held about 40% of the market share of international passengers flying to and from Vietnam in February 2012.^[95] At the time, Vietnam Airlines controlled 77% share of the domestic aviation market, with 14% covered by Jetstar Pacific.^[95] 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 ANA Holdings transferred 70 million shares to 15,100 employees of the Vietnam Airlines Group.^[142]

Vietnam Airlines Group has at least 20 subsidiaries and affiliates.^[143] By the end of its restructuring in 2015, the company planned to have offloaded its stakes in more than 10 enterprises.^[144]

Vietnam Airlines is increasingly becoming involved in the maintenance, overhauling, and production of aircraft. Maintenance works are carried out by Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO), which was established on 1 January 2009.^[150] VAECO was organized mainly upon the amalgamation of the A75 and A76 aircraft maintenance bases.^[151]: 93 VAECO carries out maintenance and technical services for Vietnam Airlines as well as for other airlines. The establishment of this company opens a new era to the aircraft maintenance field in Vietnam. As of 2013, VAECO was capable of performing a wide range of maintenance on many different aircraft types; this includes C-checks for the Boeing 777, Airbus A330, Airbus A320 and Airbus A321; and D-checks, the most thorough of all maintenance procedures, which are carried out on the ATR 72 and Fokker 70.^[152]

In addition to its self-maintenance facilities, Vietnam Airlines also has maintenance contracts with other airlines and maintenance organisations.^[151]: 93

There are currently no production facilities in Vietnam for aircraft and spare parts. However, Boeing has managed to obtain 35% of the distribution market in Vietnam, and GE Aviation, in turn, supplies jet engines for the Boeing aircraft. In the future, conversely, Vietnam Airlines is planning to build a maintenance factory in conjunction with Rolls-Royce and other companies.^[153] It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with EADS, a pan-European aerospace and defence corporation, that would let the corporation assemble and manufacture plane components in the future.^[154]

Vietnam Airlines has a network within Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.^[155] With about 300 daily flights,^[156] the airline flies to 21 destinations domestically, and to 43 internationally.^[157] In addition, it has codeshare agreements with a number of airlines for other routes, some of which span to North America.

Vietnam Airlines has traditionally increased flights among Vietnamese cities to cater for the heavy demands brought by the annual Tết celebration. This busy period, which could fall anywhere from late January to mid-February, is Vietnam's most important celebration; hundreds of extra flights are scheduled by domestic airlines during this period to allow Vietnamese to return to their families, often in rural areas, to celebrate the occasion. In 2010, the airline increased its seat capacity from 45% to 120% on certain domestic routes.^[168] In 2011, it increased additional flights on ten routes, adding more than 100,000 seats. About 63,000 of these seats were between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This represented a remarkable 41% increase against normal days.^[169] In 2013, the carrier added an extra 174,000 seats during the celebratory period, of which 82,000 seats were on the trunk route between its primary hubs.^[170]

Vietnam Airlines joined the SkyTeam airline alliance on 10 June 2010.^[171][172]

Vietnam Airlines codeshares with the following airlines:^{[173][174][1]}

As of August 2024^[update], Vietnam Airlines operates the following aircraft:^{[185][186][187]}

The Airbus A321-200 is the backbone of the carrier's fleet.

A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321neo

Vietnam Airlines's first Airbus A350

Vietnam Airlines's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

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 has operated the following aircraft throughout its history:^[195]

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On flights operated using Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, Vietnam Airlines offers In-flight entertainment via personal televisions. On flights operated using Airbus A321neo, Vietnam Airlines offers In-flight entertainment via personal devices. Entertainment options consist of films, games, TV programmes, audiobooks and music. Vietnam Airlines offers two in-flight magazines, Heritage and Heritage Fashion, in addition to other reading material.^[203]

Business

Business class is the highest of the 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 inches of pitch, 10 degrees 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.^[204]

Premium Economy

Vietnam Airlines' premium economy class has a wider seat width and legroom compared to Economy with 38–42 in (97–107 cm) of seat pitch and 7-8 inches of recline. This class is offered only on flights operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A350. On every flight featuring Premium Economy, hot meals are served with an extensive menu of Vietnamese delicacies and popular world cuisine. Personal care bags with essential amenities are also provided. Premiere brand cosmetics and aqua water are available in the restroom during longer flights. Refreshments are served on flights over 90 minutes, with hot meals available on flights that are longer than two hours.^[205]

Economy

Economy class is available on all flights operated by Vietnam Airlines. Seats in this cabin feature seats 81 cm (32 in) in width.^[206] 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.^[207]

Lotusmiles (stylized as LotuSmiles) is the airlines' frequent flyer program.^[5] The program consisted of five tiers (Silver, Titanium, Gold, Platinum and Million Miler) with benefits varying between tiers.^[208] 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).^[209][210] Accumulated miles can be redeemable to buy tickets and items at Lotusmall or exchange for vouchers for Vingroup services.^[211]

According to Aviation Safety Network, Vietnam Airlines has experienced six accidents/incidents since 1951, three of them leading to fatalities.^[212] All of the latter involved Soviet-built aircraft and occurred on final approach. The deadliest one took place on 19 September 1988, when a Tupolev Tu-134A crashed on approach to Don Mueang International Airport, killing 76 of 90 aboard.^[213] The second-deadliest accident occurred on 3 September 1997, when a Tupolev Tu-134B-3 crashed after hitting trees on approach to Phnom Penh International Airport; the death toll rose to 65.^[214] The third-deadliest accident occurred on 14 November 1992, when a Yakovlev Yak-40 crashed on approach to Nha Trang Airport, killing 30 of 31 aboard.^[215] The airline also experienced a hijacking in 1992, without any recorded fatality.^[216]

• Air transport in Vietnam
• List of airlines of Vietnam

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vietnam Airlines.

• 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.