VNA welcomes 20 millionth passenger

Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) organised a ceremony to welcome the 20 millionth passenger and the 700,000th flight of 2016 at Noi Bai International Airport on Wednesday. — Photo vnexpress.net

The lucky passenger is Mamoru Kato from Japan. The lucky flight number VN311 comes from Narita, Japan.

The national carrier is estimated to carry some 20.6 million passengers this year.

To meet the increasing demand, the firm has continuously received and successfully exploited the fleet of new-generation Boeing 787-9’s and Airbus A350’s, ensuring the airline’s operation, security and safety.

This year also marked a significant development for Vietnam Airlines, as it has completed procedures for Japan’s ANA Holdings Inc to officially become a strategic shareholder, with an 8.8 per cent stake in the airline.

In an interview with Bloomberg in Ha Noi on Wednesday, Vietnam Airlines Chief Executive Officer Duong Tri Thanh said the firm plans to lease 20 A321neo aircraft to add domestic and regional flights after carrying a record number of passengers.

The Airbus planes, to be delivered starting 2018, will be used for flights within a five-hour radius, including the popular Ha Noi-HCM City route, Thanh said. Vietnam Air is leasing the planes from a number of companies, including Air Lease Corp, he added.

VATM is estimated to operate more than 742,000 safe flights this year, an increase of 16 per cent compared with last year.

The corporation has focused on systematical methods to raise its capacity, including putting into operation a North-South express air route, the air traffic control centre at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

To satisfy the demand of growth and development of domestic and international airlines transportation, Vietnam Airlines and VATM pledged to ensure safety of all flights in its duty region; strengthen investment, technology renovation and equipment modernisation; improve the human resource quality; and attempt to become one of leading airline service suppliers in the south-eastern region and one of the favourite airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. — VNS