According to Vietnam Airlines Chief Executive Le Hong Ha, the country精东影业 largest airline will shortly ground a total of twelve Airbus A320neo family aircraft fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW1100 GTF engines. Speaking to the local media outlet , the CEO explained that the affected planes will remain inactive for up to 300 days, as ongoing supply chain disruptions have doubled the expected maintenance time.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates a mixed fleet consisting of 107 planes, 20 of which are A321-200N jets, all powered by a troubled engine, as indicated by . It is estimated that the number of aircraft set to be grounded represents nearly 20% of the carrier精东影业 entire domestic fleet.

Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine problem, which first emerged in July 2023 due to a rare condition in the powder metal used to manufacture certain engine parts, has impacted numerous airlines and aircraft leasing companies globally.

P&W says 鈥榮ignificant鈥� number of A320neo family engines will have to be removed

• Aircraft

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-07-25

RTX Corporation, the owner of Pratt & Whitney, estimates that the scheduled engine inspections, potentially spanning up to 60 days each, are slated to occur between 2023 and 2026. This will potentially result in the annual grounding of approximately 350 aircraft throughout this period. However, in a scenario of a surge in aircraft grounding, the number of aircraft affected may reach 650 planes during the first six months of 2024.

According to the engine manufacturer, the affected GTFs were manufactured between October 2015 and September 2021. To this date, the number of possibly impacted engines has grown to nearly 3,000 globally, or more than 90% of the GTF engines presently in service.

Initially, the United States (US) President Joe Biden confirmed the order between the manufacturer and the airline. The White House精东影业 readout of Biden精东影业 meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh read that both officials 鈥渨elcomed a landmark deal between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines worth $7.8 billion that will support more than 30,000 jobs in the United States鈥�.

In a separate fact sheet, the White House clarified that Vietnam Airlines has purchased 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the deal providing the country精东影业 growing travel and tourism industry with 鈥渨orld-class aircraft鈥�.

“In line with Vietnam Airlines’ 2025-2030 fleet strategy and a vision to 2035, aircraft investment is a crucial project that underpins positive recovery momentum and prosperous outlook for the airline,” Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Vietnam Airlines, stated.

Meanwhile, Boeing’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Brad McMullen said that Southeast Asia was one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, adding that the Boeing 737 MAX was perfect for Vietnam Airlines to respond to that growth.

“We value our historic partnership with Vietnam Airlines, dating back to 1995 when the airline first leased 767,” McMullen added.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines does not operate any narrow-body jets made by Boeing, and only flies the 787-9 and 787-10, according to ch-aviation.com data. Its single-aisle fleet consists solely of Airbus aircraft, with the airline operating 48 A321ceo (seven inactive) and 20 A321neos.

Pacific Airlines, a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, also has 11 Airbus A320s (two inactive) in its fleet.

During a February 2019 interview, the then-chief executive officer (CEO) of Vietnam Airlines told Bloomberg the airline was considering ordering between 50 and 100鈥疊oeing 737 MAX aircraft, with deliveries expected between 2020 and 2030.

However, the following month, the aircraft was grounded worldwide following a second fatal crash to involve the type in Ethiopia in March 2019.

In December 2021, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said that based on Boeing精东影业 safety measures and investigations into the two accidents, it had re-evaluated the safety index of the aircraft and allowed the 737 MAX to operate within the country from December 31, 2021.

Since that date, Boeing has not delivered a single 737 MAX to Vietnam, according to the company精东影业 Orders & Deliveries filings as of July 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, ch-aviation.com data showed that no airlines in Vietnam operate the type. Only VietJet Air, a locally based low-cost carrier, has 150鈥�737 MAX aircraft on order.

VietJet Air to receive first batch of Boeing 737 MAX planes by 2028

• Aircraft

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-09-12

UPDATE September 11, 2023, 14:45 pm (UTC +3): The article was updated with a statement from Boeing and Vietnam Airlines.

The four flight attendants were on a flight duty (VN 10) from Paris鈥� Charles de Gaulles Airport (CDG) to SGN airport on March 16, 2023 when customs performed a security clearance check.

Customs officers found 11.4 kilograms of ecstasy and narcotics kept in 112 pieces of toothpaste tubes.

Image source: Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, published on tuoitrenews.vn

identified the flight attendants as Dang Phuong Van, Tran Thi Thu Nga, Vo Tu Quynh and purser Nguyen Thanh Thuy.

The flight attendants said that someone in France paid them more than VND 10 million ($424), to help transport 鈥渟ome goods鈥� to Vietnam.

“Vietnam Airlines has received information about the detention of 4 flight attendants on flight number VN10 due to suspicion of carrying banned substances in the luggage,” Vietnam Airlines spokesperson Dang Tuan said in a statement seen by.

“Currently, they have been suspended from duty to help with the investigation,” the airline spokesperson added.

Under Vietnamese law, the production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or cocaine, or 300 grams of methamphetamine, can carry the death penalty.

The airline is currently cooperating with local police on the case investigation.

Vietnam Airlines releases statement about flight attendants held in Melbourne

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2022-06-20

The Vietnamese flag carrier confirmed that on May 23, 2022, nine out of 11 flight attendants on flight VN 780 were held and questioned the Australian authorities at the airport prior to the Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh city flight.

Eight of the flight attendants were allowed to fly to Ho Chi Minh later the same day, while the remaining flight attendant was allowed to board a flight back to Vietnam two days later.

On June 14, 2022, Australia精东影业 7News reported on a raid that saw police “busting” nine crew accused of laundering AU60,000 ( $41,000) in cash. The police found the cash divided up amongst the crew and hidden in their personal luggage.

Image credit: video screengrab from 7news.com.au

Australian police officers suspect that the crew were attempting to smuggle drug money to cartels overseas. While the Australian media did not specifically name the airline, a photograph released by Australian Border Force, and published by 7News showed cash and Vietnamese passports taken as evidence.

Vietnam Airlines as simply 鈥渁 random inspection鈥�, advising local media that it had not received any official notice from Australian authorities. 

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) as 鈥渘ot very serious鈥�. 

Under Australian law, any foreigner who brings AUD 10,000 AUD ($ 6,935), or an equivalent amount in other currencies, must make a declaration when they enter or leave the country. Otherwise, they can be subject to fines or imprisonment.

Vietnam精东影业 flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will be suspending its Hanoi-Moscow service from March 25, 2022.  

This January, Vietnam Airlines is offering round-trip tickets between Vietnam and 3 European cities: London, Paris and Frankfurt.
For the latest flight schedule, please visit .

鈥� Vietnam Airlines (@VietnamAirlines)

On January 24, 2022, Vietnam Airlines鈥� Airbus A350 aircraft, registered as VN-A889, took off from Hanoi International Airport (HAN) and is currently en route to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), according to Flightradar24.com data.  

Later this week, Vietnam Airlines will fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA). According to the airline精东影业 website, Vietnam Airlines will also head to Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) on January 28, 2022.  

In March 2020, Vietnam suspended the entry of all foreign travelers except for diplomats, officials, experts, and skilled workers.   

Earlier in 2021, Vietnam authorities announced that it planned to restart phased international travel beginning January 2022, targeting full international travel resumption by July 2022.  

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) increased the frequency of regular international passenger flights connecting Vietnam and four destinations in Asia, according to an announcement dated January 16, 2022.  

Vietnam increases international flight frequency across Asia

• Civil Aviation

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-01-16

Based on local news reports, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said that most of the countries have agreed to the country精东影业 proposedfour regular international passenger flights per week per destination. These countries include the United States, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan.

A representative of Vietnam Airlines advised local media that it is in the process of trying to resume more regular international flights.

Currently, the airline has reopened regular commercial routes carrying passengers to Vietnam in seven markets: the US (four flights per week), Japan (three flights per week), South Korea (two flights per week), Singapore (two flights per week), Thailand (two flights per week) and Cambodia (four flights per week).

Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) is partially resuming its operations to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi after two years. There are currently over residing in Singapore, and from January 13, 2022, Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) will operate  biweekly flights from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City on Mondays and Thursdays and one to Hanoi every Friday.

In South Korea, where there is a limit on passenger arrivals due to COVID-19 travel regulations, only two flights per week between the country and Vietnam are currently allowed. 

Apart from in preparation for the increased international arrivals, the country is also bracing itself for the upcoming peak travel period for the lunar new year. Vietnam精东影业 Ministry of Transport has rolled out its for 2022 and the upcoming Tet, the Vietnamese lunar new year that is celebrated over three days starting February 1, 2022. 

Based on the plan, the CAAV has directed airlines, airports, and service providers to prepare resources and ready to meet the travel needs of passengers, especially during the peak of the Lunar New Year. The CAAV wants to make sure that people do not have 鈥渘o means of returning home to celebrate Tet.”

Vietnam Airlines operates country精东影业 first non-stop flight to US

• Airlines

byVyte Klisauskaite

2021-11-29

 

Vietnam Airlines鈥� Boeing 787 Dreamliner, registered as VN-A861, took off from Ho Chi Minh City International Airport (SGN) and touched down at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on November 29, 2021, marking the airline精东影业 first entry to the United States.  

鈥淲e are so honored to be the first airport in the U.S. to offer nonstop regular flights to Vietnam. We are grateful to Vietnam Airlines for making San Francisco their first U.S. destination, and we are confident this new service will be a success,鈥� said Director of San Francisco Airport Ivar C. Satero. 

The Ho Chi Minh-based carrier said it will deploy its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A350 aircraft for its regular non-stop services to the United States. The airline currently has a total of 14 Airbus A350s, 11 787-9s and four 787-10 Dreamliners in its fleet, according to Planespotters.net.  

Vietnam Airlines will begin service with two weekly flights between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City. Over time, the airline aims to offer seven weekly flights to the US once the COVID-19 related travel restrictions are eased. It also plans to open a new route between Hanoi and Los Angeles.  

In a press statement dated November 29, 2021, President & CEO of Vietnam Airlines, Le Hong Ha announced: 鈥淭oday, we are very pleased to announce the success of the inaugural commercial direct flight to the U.S., marking a new milestone for Vietnam Airlines in particular and Vietnam精东影业 aviation in general.鈥�  

Vietnam Airlines boosts its capital with $1 billion

• Airlines

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2021-09-24

Starting November 28, 2021, Vietnam Airlines will send its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) two times per week. 

The outbound flight to SFO is expected to take 13 hours and 50 minutes, and the return flight to Vietnam will take 16 hours and 40 minutes. The airline plans to operate the route twice weekly throughout December 2021, and will eventually increase to daily flights once COVID-19 travel restrictions ease. It also plans to use its A350 aircraft for this route in the future. 

The airline精东影业 expansion to the United States comes after Vietnam announced its plan to resume international flights for the first time since March 2020. 

It has also now triumphed over rival Bamboo Airways as the first Vietnamese airline to receive an official grant from the FAA to operate to the US. 

On November 16, Vietnam Airlines officially received the permit to operate non-stop commercial flights between Vietnam and the US and became the first and only Vietnamese carrier with the authorization to do so.

鈥� Vietnam Airlines (@VietnamAirlines)

Those include flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Thanh Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Phu Y锚n, Binh Dinh, Phu Qu么c, with a frequency of four rotations per day shared between Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air, and between Thanh Hoa and Khanh Hoa, Phu Qu么c, with one daily rotation operated by Vietjet Air. 

Passengers must be fully vaccinated. In addition, a negative coronavirus test taken 72 hours prior to departure is required from travelers flying out of 鈥淰ery High Risk鈥� areas. These include Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam精东影业 largest city, and the epicenter of the country精东影业 COVID surge. Another test will be performed on arrival, and after a week upon arrival.

On October 2, 2021, the authority sent the Ministry of Transport and Communications a proposal to resume regular domestic flights in which it offered 18 routes, pending the approval of the authorities of each concerned city.

After receiving the approvals of 13 out of 20 of those localities, the authority confirmed the resumption of 10 routes. 

On October 6, 2021, Vietnam reported 4,363 new COVID cases and 119 deaths.

Vietnam suspends entry of foreign travelers as COVID surges

• Civil Aviation

byClement Charpentreau

2021-05-31