Vietnam orders 10 A350 XWB and confirms options for 20 A321 aircraft

Vietnam Airlines has signed a contract for 10 A350-900 XWBs, as well as for 10 additional A321s. This announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the aircraft signed earlier in the year in October. 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 contracts were signed in Hanoi by Pham Ngoc Minh, chief executive officer of Vietnam Airlines, and Tran Long, chief executive officer of Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company, with John Leahy, chief operating officer - customers.

Vietnam Airlines has steadily built up a modern Airbus fleet in recent years and 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 awaiting delivery.

"We thoroughly reviewed the A350 XWB programme, 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 Sy Hung, chairman of Vietnam Airlines. "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.