Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing order 12 Boeing 787-8s

Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. (VALC) have finalized an order for a total of 12 Boeing 787-8s with a list value of approximately US$ 2 billion. Vietnam Airlines will take four of the new airplanes and VALC will purchase the remaining eight Dreamliners, leasing them to Vietnam Airlines.

The combined Vietnam order pushes 787 order totals for Boeing to 802. This is the second order for the 787 Dreamliner by the airline, following a previous order for four airplanes in 2005. The airline was the seventh carrier to select the 787, with an initial commitment in late 2004.

The order is the first ever placed by VALC, which is was formed last year by Vietnam Airlines, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) and the Phong Phu Corporation.

"We are proud to be one of the launch customers of the 787 Dreamliner and look forward to putting these new-generation airplanes into operation. We believe the Boeing 787-8s will help Vietnam Airlines to effectively expand its current fleet and network, and increase its capabilities for further growth and sustainable development," said Pham Ngoc Minh, president and CEO of Vietnam Airlines.

The airline's first 787-8, from the previous order, is planned for delivery in 2009. Vietnam Airlines plans to operate a total of 20 purchased and leased 787s by 2015, and 28 Dreamliners by the year 2020, making the airplane a key element in the airline's international strategy.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Vietnam Airlines, Boeing, 787, Dreamliner