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ON A HIGH

THE RAPID RECOVERY OF VIETNAM’S COMMERCIAL AVIATION

SECTOR BODES WELL FOR ITS FAST GROWING AIRLINES

ATUL CHANDRA
Vietnam’s civil aviation sector one of the major carriers in the Since its start of operations,
is one of the fastest growing in region operating 94 routes to 22 Vietnam Airlines pursued a strong
Southeast Asia and the nation is domestic and 29 international des- culture of professionalism and tech-
now home to several homegrown tinations with an average of 400 nical excellence. This create the
carriers that are competing on an flights per day. The carrier which necessary professional expertise
even keel with other carriers in the is now witnessing a rapid rebound within the airline which allowed it to
region. Just like their global coun- in passenger traffic announced become the first airline in the world
terparts, Vietnamese carriers were in June that it would to return to in 2015, to simultaneously operate
also severely buffeted during the Terminal T4 at London Heathrow the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and
COVID-19 pandemic but are now Airport after completing all the Airbus A350-900 XWB in 2015.
reporting impressive growth rates. required logistics activities. The carrier was also one of the first
This is especially the case on inter- B787 operators in South East Asia
national routes, after Vietnam and today operates both the 787-9
officially reopened its international
flight network in mid-February. and 787-10. Vietnam Airlines took
delivery of its first 787-9 in July 2015
The major drivers for the rebound in and the 10th aircraft was deliv-
air travel in Vietnam are its growing ered in November 2016. This was
tourism industry, the emergence of followed by delivery of the first of
low-cost carriers (LCC), and strong eight 787-10 Dreamliners in August
economic growth. Vietnam was the 2019. These eight 787-10’s are on
world’s seventh fastest-growing avi- lease from global aircraft lessor, Air
ation market in the year 2020 and Lease Corporation.
had the highest average growth “Following the gradual recovery
rate in Southeast Asia at 17.4 per of the aviation worldwide Vietnam Vietnam Airlines’ 787-10 aircraft
cent as compared to 6.1 per cent Airlines is fully prepared to meet the are configured with 367 seats
in ASEAN. The nation’s growing growing demand from international (24 in Business Class and 343 in
airport and airline infrastructure is markets which will substantially Economy Class). The 787-10 is the
key to its efforts to emerge as the contribute to the country’s post largest member of Boeing’s 787
aviation gateway of Southeast Asia pandemic economy growth,” a com- family and can carry up to 40
in particular and Asia in general. pany official said. In June, Vietnam more passengers as compared to
Airlines officially launched non- the 787-9. The 787-10 has a pub-
Vietnam Airlines stop flights connecting Vietnam lished range of 11,910 km providing
Vietnam Airlines which was founded and India and the flights are oper- Vietnam Airlines with the perfect
combination of size and efficiency
in May 1995 and has grown into ated by wide-body Boeing 787 and
Airbus A350 jetliners. to serve high-demand routes. The

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