Signs Contract For 10 A350 XWBs, 20 More A321 Narrowbodies
This week, Vietnam Airlines firmed up an earlier commitment for
10 A350-900 XWBs, and also signed for 10 more A321s. The
announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) for the aircraft on October 1, in the presence of Nguyen Tan
Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam during his state visit to
France.
An additional 10 A321s covered under the MOU have now been
confirmed as firm orders for the new Vietnam Aircraft Leasing
Company, in which Vietnam Airlines is a major shareholder. The
respective contracts were signed in Hanoi Thursday by Mr Pham Ngoc
Minh, Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Airlines, and Mr Tran
Long, Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company,
with John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer - Customers.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates 10 A320s, 11 A321s and three
A330s (two -200s and one -300) on an extensive regional and
domestic network. Four previously ordered A321s are still to be
delivered. The airline also has 12 Boeing 787s -- the direct
competitor to the A350 XWB -- on order. The October MOU called for
20 A321s, twice the number the airline signed for Thursday.
As ANN reported in October,
when the MOU was signed, many analysts suggested Vietnam's move to
purchase both aircraft was a political decision, as much as an
economic one.
Though it's hardly uncommon for airlines to split orders between
the two rival planemakers, those watching this deal point out
Vietnam has been seeking broad international support for its bid to
gain a two-year sear on the UN Security Council... making it a good
idea for the country to appeal to both US and European
manufacturers.
Understandably, Vietnam Airlines Chairman Nguyen Sy Hung chose
to emphasize economic -- and not political -- reasons for the
airline's choice in aircraft.
"We thoroughly reviewed the A350 XWB program, and we are very
confident that this aircraft will set new standards of passenger
comfort, operating economics and low emissions in our growing
long-haul markets. The size of the A350-900 XWB responds very well
to our expected traffic growth over the next decade," said Nguyen.
"Our A330s already provide us with an excellent level of economics
combined with superior passenger appeal. The A350 XWB will further
consolidate our successful growth and long term development into
the future."
"Vietnam Airlines has been a strong partner for Airbus in Asia
for many years and I am delighted that this relationship is now
further strengthened with the airline becoming a strategic customer
for the A350 XWB in the region," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief
Operating Officer - Customers. "With orders for A321s from both
Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company, Airbus is
proud to be playing a central role in the continued modernization
of the rapidly developing Vietnamese air transport industry."
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