Here is a corner of the Boeing Dreamliner's cabin. Vietnamese pilots will be trained at the Boeing's training campus in Sinagapore. — Photo courtesy of VNA

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — National carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and Boeing Flight Services signed a five-year exclusive pilot-training agreement on July 27 in Seattle, to support the Ha Noi-based airline's 787 Dreamliners.

Under the agreement, Boeing Flight Services, a business unit of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, will provide flight training to the airline's new 787 Dreamliner fleet at Boeing's training campus in Singapore. Nearly 90 VNA pilots are expected to undergo training this year.

Executive Vice-President of VNA Phan Xuan Duc said with Boeing's experience and expertise, the airline was confident that it would have a smooth entry into service with the training and operational support they provide.

"This expanding co-operation will not only strengthen the relationship between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing, but also provide Vietnam Airlines enough capability to master state-of-the-art technologies and enable Vietnamese pilots to directly operate the most modern aircraft in the world," Duc said.

Vice-President of Boeing Flight Services Sherry Carbary said, "This is just one way we are giving airlines a competitive edge, by creating tailored training solutions so they can focus on what really matters, which is keeping pilots and airplanes flying revenue flights."

The airline will initially use the new plane on the Ha Noi - HCM City route, before operating it on an international route from Viet Nam to Heathrow Airport in London. It will become the first airline in the region to operate the new Boeing aircraft on direct routes from Southeast Asia to Europe.

As per the plan, the VNA will have 33 wide-body aircrafts by early 2019, of which 19 will be Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and 14 Airbus A350-900 XWB (including newly purchased and rented ones). — VNS