Vietnam Airlines takes Delivery of 10th Boeing 777

Vietnam Airlines today celebrated the delivery of its 10th 777-200ER. With its lotus tail gleaming, the airplane is loaded with a special cargo of textbooks collected by Seattle University and will depart for Hanoi Noiboi International Airport Friday. The textbooks are being donated to Vietnam National University in support of the development of English-language technical degree capabilities in Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines' newest 777 is the sixth that the airline has leased through International Lease Finance Corp. In addition, Vietnam Airlines also owns four 777-200ERs.

To coincide with the airplane's delivery flight from Seattle to Hanoi, Seattle University collected textbooks from students and faculty over the past several weeks. Among the subjects of the donated books are aviation and aerospace technology and information technology journals and reference books.

"A fleet of 10 Boeing 777s is a key element in our business plan and provides Vietnam Airlines with a significant international presence," said Nguyen Xuan Hien, president and CEO, Vietnam Airlines. "Additionally, we are very pleased to participate in this program to enhance educational opportunities for Vietnamese students."

The new donation by Seattle University follows two previous donations of computers, office equipment and textbooks by Boeing during 2005. Boeing and Seattle University hope that the donations will provide additional opportunities for Vietnamese students and provide lasting relationships between the universities.

"This is a great example of the long-standing ties between Seattle University and the Boeing Company," said Joseph Phillips, dean of the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University. "Boeing has long been a supporter of Seattle University, and this project is a natural partnership for us. Working together, we are able to have an impact in Vietnam that we could not do by ourselves."

Vietnam Airlines' 777s feature the spacious "Boeing Signature Interior" that was designed to provide maximum comfort to passengers on longer intercontinental flights with large overhead stowage bins that are designed to open downward for convenient loading and a high ceiling that provides passengers a more spacious, open environment.

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