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]
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] Under the designation 919th Transport Air Force Regiment (Trung đoàn Không quân vận tải 919),[17] 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.[18] This was due to an embargo that prohibited the airline from leasing and/or buying American technology or components.[19]
A 919th Regiment-operated DC-6 (likely inherited from Air Vietnam and was flying under Vietnam Civil Aviation livery) participated in the mobilization of Vietnamese troops to Northern border amid Sino-Vietnamese War.
The airline's development and expansion was seriously hampered by the Vietnam War (1955–1975).[20] Following the war, its first international destination was Beijing, followed by Vientiane in 1976.[21] 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.[21] The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the expansion of the network to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore.[21]
In 1990, the company initiated discussions regarding the incorporation of Western-built aircraft into the fleet.[22] Later that year, however, the carrier had to cancel the acquisition of two Airbus A310s due to their use of US-manufactured engines.[23] 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.[22]: 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.[24]
In October 1992, the Boeing 737 was supplemented with an Airbus A310.[22]: 26 However, a dispute with BulgarianJes 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.[22]: 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 AirlinesBoeing 767-300ER, arrived the following year.[22] In October 1993, the first Airbus A320-200 was incorporated over a two-year wet-lease contract with Air France.[25] 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.[20]: 31 [22][26] By that time the route network had further expanded internationally, seeing the incorporation of destinations such as Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney, and Melbourne.[21] In 1993, the airline carried 1.06 million passengers, 418,000 of whom were on international flights.[27]
New enterprise: 1993–2006
Vietnam Airlines' former logo. In October 2002, the airline introduced the current golden lotus identity to coincide with the delivery of the Boeing 777 in 2003.[28]
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][20]: 30 [29] 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.[22] Also from 1993 to 1995, the 919th Air Force Regiment was eventually re-established as the Flight Crew Division 919 (Đoàn bay 919) - the designation that is still being used by the Vietnam Airlines and its personnel until today - marking the carrier's full transformation from a nominal military unit into a wholly civilian and commercial operator.[17][30]
In February 1994, US PresidentBill Clinton lifted the trade embargo to allow Vietnam Airlines the ability to acquire Western-built aircraft.[22]: 26 Consequently, Vietnam Airlines announced in April of the same year that it would be phasing out its inefficient Soviet planes.[25] 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).[32]: 80 On 27 May 1995 (1995-05-27),[33] the airline, along with a number of other aviation-related businesses, were incorporated to establish Vietnam Airlines Corporation.[34] Two Fokker 70s were purchased in mid-1995 for US$50 million;[35] they were aimed at partly replacing the Tu-134 fleet on domestic routes as well as at serving as VIP transport.[36] 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-leasedBoeing 767 aircraft (three -300ERs and one -200ER leased from AWAS and Royal Brunei) in the fleet.[37]
In September 1996, Vietnam Airlines started offering business class services and in 1999, the airline launched its frequent-flyer program, Golden Lotus Plus;[38] 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.[39] In February 1996 (1996-02), GECAS delivered the first of three Boeing 767-300ER to the carrier, on dry-lease for five years.[40] 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.[41] 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.[39] Meanwhile, two Fokker 70s were acquired in May and July to replace the twelve Tupolev Tu-134s.[20]: 31 [42] On 3 September 1997, the crash of a Tupolev Tu-134B, on approach to Phnom Penh'sPochentong Airport in bad weather, resulted in more than 60 fatalities.[43]
A new livery was introduced in early 1998, initially unveiled on a Boeing 767.[44]
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.[45] The deal involved four Boeing 777-200ERs.[46][47] The transaction was valued at US$680 million; the first aircraft was initially scheduled for delivery in 2003.[45] 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.[48][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.[21][27] During 2002, Vietnam Airlines considered a lease offer from Airbus for two Airbus A340-300s.[49] On 4 September 2003, a landmark ceremony celebrated the airline's receipt of its first Boeing 777-200ER purchased outright from Boeing.[50] On 28 October, the airline decided to move its operations in Moscow from Sheremetyevo International Airport to Domodedovo International Airport.[51]
In June 2005, Vietnam Airlines ordered four Boeing 787-8s.[52] 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).[53][54][55] These new aircraft were to allow Vietnam Airlines to expand its network and replace some leased aircraft.[56] 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."[57] 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.[58]
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%.[59][60] The following year, Vietnam Airlines was admitted into IATA.[61][62] As part of the move, Vietnam Airlines had to meet the association's IOSA safety standards.[63]
Expansion: 2007–current
A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321-231 featuring SkyTeam livery. The type has been the carrier's main workhorse in the last decade.
According to several newspaper reports in 2007, the Vietnamese government planned to partly privatize Vietnam Airlines.[64] 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.[65] 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.[66][67][68][69]
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.[70][71] The Airbus A350s will supplement the Boeing 787s already ordered by the airline.[71] This single order will result in Vietnam Airlines becoming one of the largest Airbus operators in Asia.[72] The two companies also ordered five extra ATR 72-500s in December 2007.[73]
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.[74] 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.[75] 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.[76]
In 2009, Vietnam Airlines and the Government of Cambodia established a joint-venture, having 49% and 51% stockholding, respectively,[77] with the goal of boosting tourism in Cambodia.[78][79] The joint-venture was a new Cambodian national airline named Cambodia Angkor Air, which started flying in July the same year,[80] using ATR-72 aircraft;[77] an Airbus A321 joined the fleet in September.[79] Also in 2009, the carrier signed a deal for another 16 Airbus A321s plus two Airbus A350s, during the Paris Air Show.[81][82] In addition, Vietnam Airlines launched a new bilingual website in October to simplify bookings[83] and adopted a new passenger service system designed by IT provider Sabre Airline Solutions.[84]
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at Sydney Airport
On 26 August 2010, the airline teamed up with Boeing during the unveiling of its interior modernization programme to increase passenger comfort.[85] 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.[86] 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.[87][88]
In January 2011, plans were announced by the airline to re-initiate an initial public offering (IPO) by the end of 2012;[89] an earlier attempt was stalled by the 2007–2008 financial crisis.[citation needed] Scheduled for mid-2014 after several delays,[90] the IPO and subsequent share-offerings will supply the funds to expand Vietnam Airlines' fleet and network.[91][92] With the company valued at US$1.5 billion, the government plans to initially keep 75% of the shares.[93] The IPO plan was submitted to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport in June 2014.[94] Scheduled to commence on 14 November 2014, the IPO received two submissions from foreign companies, but their names have not been disclosed.[95] 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.[96]
In February 2012, Vietnam Airlines boosted its stake in the low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines to 70%, with Qantas holding the balance.[97][98][99] 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).[100] 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.[97] 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.[101] 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.[102][103] 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.[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.[108][109][110] In August 2015 (2015-08), the airline's first Boeing 787-9 entered the fleet.[111][112] In November 2018, the carrier received its first Airbus A321neo.[113][114][115] 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.[116][117] In November 2021, Vietnam Airlines started its first direct non-stop service to the United States, from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco.[118]
Corporate affairs and identity
Vietnam Airlines JSC
Native name
Tổng Công Ty Hàng Không Việt Nam - CTCP (lit.'Vietnam Airlines Corporation - JSC')
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.[125][126][127][128][119]: 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.[120] As of December 2019, the workforce of the Group numbered 21,255 employees with Vietnam Airlines itself employing 6,409 people.[129] The airline is headquartered in the Long Bien District of Hanoi;[130] previously it was headquartered at Gia Lam Airport in Gia Lam, Hanoi.[131][132]
Vietnam Airlines headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam
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.[133]
Training
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.[134] 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.[135] Vietnam Airlines also contracts CAE Global Academy Phoenix in Arizona, United States, to train its cadets.[136]
Financial performance
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.[137] The airline carried more than 4 million passengers in 2002, which is an 18% increase over the previous year.[138] Its cargo traffic also climbed 20% during the same period, resulting in a 2002 profit of US$35.77 million.[138]
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.[139][140] 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.[141] 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%.[142] In 2012, the company's total revenue totalled US$2.4 billion, with profits totalling US$3.3 million.[96] The following year, the carrier posted a US$25 million gross profit.[143]
Vietnam Airlines held about 40% of the market share of international passengers flying to and from Vietnam in February 2012.[97] At the time, Vietnam Airlines controlled 77% share of the domestic aviation market, with 14% covered by Jetstar Pacific.[97] As of December 2012, Vietnam Airlines controlled just below 70% of the domestic market share.[96]
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.[144]
Vietnam Airlines Group has at least 20 subsidiaries and affiliates.[145] By the end of its restructuring in 2015, the company planned to have offloaded its stakes in more than 10 enterprises.[146]
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.[152] VAECO was organized mainly upon the amalgamation of the A75 and A76 aircraft maintenance bases.[153]: 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.[154]
In addition to its self-maintenance facilities, Vietnam Airlines also has maintenance contracts with other airlines and maintenance organisations.[153]: 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.[155] 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.[156]
Destinations
Vietnam Airlines has a network within Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.[157] With about 300 daily flights,[158] the airline flies to 21 destinations domestically, and to 43 internationally.[159] 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.[170] 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.[171] 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.[172]
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:[197]
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.[205]
Cabins
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.[206]
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.[207]
Economy
A Vietnam Airlines economy class meal
Economy class is available on all flights operated by Vietnam Airlines. Seats in this cabin feature seats 81 cm (32 in) in width.[208] 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.[209]
Lotusmiles
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.[210] 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).[211][212] Accumulated miles can be redeemable to buy tickets and items at Lotusmall or exchange for vouchers for Vingroup services.[213]
^In early March 1995, Flightglobal informed the carrier also had three Boeing 767s in the fleet, two of them leased from AWAS and the other one from Region Air.[31]
^ ab"Flight Crew Division 919 receives Second-class Independence Order". Spirit Vietnam Airlines. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2024. The 919 Transport Air Force Regiment, which was established on May 1, 1959, was the first military transport aviation unit of Vietnam. By 1995, it was changed to the Flight Crew Division 919 under Vietnam Airlines.
^"Vietnamese Airbus". Flight International. 138 (4242). London: Reed Business Information: 4. 14–20 November 1990. ISSN0015-3710. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Vietnam Airlines has cancelled plans to buy two Airbus A310s because of a US trade embargo on the country, a Vietnamese Government official has said in Hanoi. The A310 uses US engines.
^"Đoàn bay 919: Hành trình chinh phục bầu trời" [Flight Crew 919: Journey to Conquer the Sky]. Spirit Vietnam Airlines (in Vietnamese). 2 May 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024. Bước ngoặt lớn diễn ra vào năm 1993, khi Đoàn bay 919 trở thành đơn vị trực thuộc Hãng hàng không quốc gia Vietnam Airlines, chuyển sang giai đoạn phát triển mới với bước nhảy vọt về trình độ. Các sĩ quan không quân trong Đoàn bay đều chuyển sang ngành dân sự. [The big turning point came in 1993, when Flight Crew 919 became a unit under Vietnam Airlines, entering a new stage of development with a leap in qualifications. All Air Force Officers in the unit have transferred to the civilian sector.]
^Karp, Aaron (4 January 2008). "Boeing finalizes DAE, Vietnam orders, sells record 1,300+ aircraft in 2007". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012. Boeing finalized Dubai Aerospace Enterprise's 100-aircraft order valued at $10.9 billion and also officially completed a $2 billion order for 12 787-8s from Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co., pushing its total 2007 commercial aircraft orders to well over 1,300, a single-year record.
^Walker, Karen (1 May 2012). "ALC purchases eight 787-9s". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Air Lease Corp. (ALC) has purchased eight Boeing 787-9s, which it will lease to Vietnam Airlines, the lessor announced Monday.
^Nguyen, Binh (25 June 2010). "Vietnam Airlines becomes limited liability company". The Saigon Times Daily. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012. In its Decision 952/QD-TTg dated 23 June 2010, the Government says it still owns Vietnam Airlines Company Limited (Vietnam Airlines), which is headquartered at 200 Nguyen Son Street in Long Bien District, Hanoi City.
^"About Us". Vietnam Airlines. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2009. "200 Nguyen Son Str., Long Bien Dist., Ha Noi city, Vietnam"
^"Home page of VN_anh". Vietnam Airlines. Archived from the original on 11 March 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2010. HEAD OFFICE: GIALAM AIRPORT, HANOI 10.000, VIETNAM.
^"Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 165 (4927). London: Reed Business Information: 92. 30 March – 5 April 2004. ISSN0015-3710. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2010. VIETNAM AIRLINES [VN] (HVN) Gialem Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam.
^"Airline Routes". Air Transport World. 3 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012. Etihad Airways has announced a codeshare agreement with Vietnam Airlines (VN), effective Oct. 30. The agreement will allow Etihad's passengers to connect through Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi on VN's daily services. VN passengers will be able to connect through Bangkok to Etihad's base in Abu Dhabi.
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