Vietnam Airlines to increase its fleet
Vietnam Airlines aims to have 60 aircraft by 2010 to cater for expansion, says official
HANOI - State-owned Vietnam Airlines Corp. will receive seven new planes next year to increase its fleet to 45 aircraft as it prepares to expand its routes, including two new flights to China and the U.S., a senior company official said.
The flag carrier aims to eventually grow its fleet to 60 aircraft by 2010, Vietnam Airline executive vice president Pham Ngoc Minh told Dow Jones Newswires in a recent interview.
He did not give details on when Vietnam Airlines ordered the seven planes, how much it cost nor the type of aircraft.
Vietnam Airlines's fleet currently comprise of 14 Airbus, 10 Boeing and 14 small planes in various types, Minh said.
In addition to the seven planes, unlisted Vietnam Airlines is due to receive four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with two to be delivered in 2009 and two in 2010, officials have said.
"We have 38 aircraft now. Next year we will add seven more to the fleet and....by 2010, we will have about 60 or over," Minh said.
Minh indicated that Vietnam Airlines may look at adding Boeing 777s to its fleet, as it isn't planning to purchase superjumbo A380s from Airbus.
"We don't think it's the right moment to talk about A380 because of infrastructures in Vietnam," Minh said, adding that acquiring B777s or B787 Dreamliners is a more "feasible project."
A series of delays has put the launch of A380 two years behind schedule. Earlier this month FedEx Corp. became the first A380 customer to cancel its order after delays in delivering the aircraft.
The airline also plans to add at least two new routes next year, Minh said.
"We are focusing on priority to fly to the West Coast of the U.S.," he said. "Los Angles is one of the choices."
He said that the airline will fly to Shanghai in the second half of 2007, adding the new destination to its current 24 international flights.
Vietnam Airlines' expansion come at a time of strong economic growth in the country. Vietnam is one of the world's fastest growing economies and was recently invited to join the World Trade Organization.
Last month, Vietnam Airlines said its operations were hurt by a typhoon, high fuel and aircraft leasing costs with January-September revenue falling 16.7 percent on-year to 13 trillion dong (US$812.5 million).
The revenue for the January-September period accounted for 78.1 percent of the carrier's full-year target. It did not give a net profit figure for the period, but Minh said, "We are profitable."
By Rattaphol Onsanit - Dow Jones Newswires - November 18, 2006.
|