The event is of great significance to the Vietnamese national flag carrier as it has become the second airline in the world and the first in the Southeast Asian region to operate the new A350 model.
The aircraft, handed over to global lessor AerCap on lease to Vietnam Airlines for operation on long haul routes, will join an existing Airbus fleet of 59 aircrafts currently operated by the carrier, comprising of 49 A321s and ten A330s.
"We have all been waiting for this moment for a long time and we are proud to be the first airline in Asia to receive the A350-900 aircraft ", said Vietnam Airlines Vice President Trinh Ngoc Thanh at the handover ceremony, witnessed by the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son.
He noted that the handover of the first Airbus A350-900 to Vietnam Airlines was another step forward, helping Vietnam Airlines fulfil its goal of “reaching further”.
"We are proud to be the first airline in Asia to receive the A350-900 aircraft and put into services between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Paris due to commence at the start of this year’s Winter schedule", Thanh said whilst conveying Vietnam Airlines' message of providing its customers with a memorable flying experience that reaches new heights.
He took the opportunity to reveal Vietnam Airlines' plan to replace its entire current fleet with new-generation aircrafts such as the A350-900 over the next 3 years.
He added that starting this year, Vietnam Airlines is commencing a service upgrade program aimed at achieving a 4-star Skytrax and starting from this summer, Vietnam Airlines will operate its flights from France to Vietnam using the Airbus A350-900 and from London and Frankfurt to Vietnam using the Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner, to replace its fleet of B777-200ER.
"We are proud to see Vietnam Airlines become the second airline in the world to operate the A350", said President and CEO of Airbus, Fabrice Brégier who expressed his confidence that the all-new A350 XWB would enable Vietnam Airlines to consolidate its position as one of Asia's leading international carriers, offering its passengers the best of the Airbus industry.
President and Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap, Philip Scruggs summed up the significant moment of the handover when he expressed his belief that the addition of the A350 model to Vietnam Airlines' fleet marked another step forward of the most vibrant airlines in Asia.
The A350-900 XWB is the latest generation wide body airliner; it features the most advanced technologies and breakthrough innovations in aerodynamics, light-weight materials and aircraft systems. These latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with 25% in fuel burn and emissions and significantly lower maintenance costs. Powered by the ultra-fuel-efficient and very quiet Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and an extra-wide, bright and spacious cabin, the A350-900 XWB is expected to be a firm favourite with travellers who will discover a whole new way of flying.
In its new blue livery with the golden lotus - Vietnam’s national flower, the new aircraft features fully reclining beds in Business Class, with in-flight Wi-Fi services also set to be introduced. Vietnam Airlines’ passengers now can enjoy incomparable comfort on its most advanced fleet, with fully reclining beds in business class, wide high definition touchscreen in-seat monitors, a state-of-the-art lighting system that adapts to your mood, and innovative technologies that provide the most pure air, lower pressure and higher humidity. Throughout their journey, passengers will feel better, breathe healthier, and rest with maximum pleasure.
The newly delivered A350 model is scheduled to be put it into service between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and then Paris from October and November, thus becoming the first member of Skyteam to operate A350 from France and between Europe and Asia. "We are proud to be the first operator of this A350-900 XWB and to welcome this latest generation aircraft to our fleet, one of the youngest and most modern in all of Asia,” said Nguyen Quoc Phuong, Director of Vietnam Airlines' representative office in France and Europe. He noted that the fleet of new Airbus and Boeing aircrafts would contribute to increasing the competitiveness of Vietnam Airlines with other international airliners.
Vietnam Airlines, the Vietnamese national flag carrier and member of the SkyTeam alliance since 2010, currently operates 93 routes to 21 domestic and 30 international destinations with more than 360 daily flights.
The handover is made between President and Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap, Philip Scruggs and Vietnam Airlines Vice President Trinh Ngoc Thanh.
Fully reclining Business class seats can recline 1800, providing ultimate comfort, perfect for long-haul flights.
A350 features larger windows, better view, lower cabin pressure, optimal humidity and other advantages.
A350 leaves Toulouse in the afternoon of June 30 for Vietnam to fly the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route this week.
