Vietnam Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vietnam Airlines
Hãng hàng không Quốc gia Việt Nam

Founded	15 January 1956; 69 years ago (1956-01-15) (as Vietnam Civil Aviation)
Hubs	Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City
Secondary hubs	Da Nang
Focus cities	Phnom Penh Siem Reap
Frequent-flyer program	Lotusmiles
Alliance	SkyTeam SkyTeam Cargo
Subsidiaries	Pacific Airlines Vietnam Air Services Company Vietnam Airlines Caterers Vietnam Airlines Cargo Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company
Fleet size	97
Destinations	66
Parent company	Vietnam Airlines JSC
Headquarters	200 Nguyễn Sơn, Bồ Đề ward, Long Biên district, Hanoi, Vietnam
Key people	Lê Hồng Hà (President & CEO) Đặng Ngọc Hoà (Chairman)
Employees	6,000 (2023)

Vietnam Airlines (Vietnamese: Hãng hàng không Quốc gia Việt Nam, lit. 'Vietnam National Airlines') is the main airline of Vietnam. It's like the country's official airline, also known as its flag carrier. The airline started in 1956. In April 1989, it became a company owned by the government.

Vietnam Airlines has its main office in Long Biên district, Hanoi. Its main travel hubs are Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. The airline flies to 117 places in 19 countries. This number does not include flights shared with other airlines.

For many years, until the early 1990s, Vietnam Airlines was a small airline. It faced challenges due to the country's situation. When relations with the United States improved, the airline grew a lot. It made its services better and updated its older planes. In 1996, the Vietnamese government brought together 20 companies to form Vietnam Airlines Corporation. The airline was the most important part of this new group.

In 2010, the company changed its structure and became Vietnam Airlines Company Limited. A team of seven managers, chosen by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, runs the company. Flying passengers is the airline's main job. It helps Vietnam's economy a lot. Vietnam Airlines also owns other companies. These include Vietnam Air Service Company, a smaller airline in southern Vietnam, and most of Pacific Airlines, a low-cost airline. The company also makes money from airplane food and fixing planes. This is done through its other businesses like Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company and Vietnam Airlines Caterers.

Vietnam Airlines also invests in renting out planes and airport ground services. It even plans to make airplane parts. The company also has a special division for carrying cargo, called Vietnam Airlines Cargo. In June 2010, Vietnam Airlines joined SkyTeam. This made it the first airline from Southeast Asia to join this big group of airlines. As of September 2021, the Vietnamese government owns most of Vietnam Airlines (86.34%). All Nippon Airways owns 5.62% as a key investor.

Exploring Vietnam Airlines' Journey

How It All Began

Vietnam Civil Aviation Ilyushin Il-14

Vietnam Airlines started in January 1956. The government of North Vietnam created it. It was called Vietnam Civil Aviation. This happened after Gia Lam Airport became government property. The airline was part of the air force but for civilian use. It got help from the Soviet Union and China.

At first, its planes were two Lisunov Li-2s. These were later replaced by two Ilyushin Il-14s and three Aero Ae-45s. This was because an embargo stopped the airline from getting American planes or parts. The Vietnam War (1954–1975) greatly slowed down the airline's growth.

After the war, its first international flight was to Beijing. Then, in 1976, it flew to Vientiane. In 1976, the airline was called General Department of Civil Aviation in Vietnam. It started full operations and carried about 21,000 passengers. About a third of these were on international flights. It also carried about 3,000 tons of cargo. In 1978, flights to Bangkok were added. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the airline added flights to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore.

A Vietnam Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 at the old Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in 1996

In 1990, the company started talking about using planes made in Western countries. But later that year, it had to cancel buying two Airbus A310s. This was because they used engines made in the US. By July 1991, the airline made a deal to rent a Boeing 737-300 from a Dutch company. This plane even had Vietnam Airlines' colors. However, the plane was returned after the U.S. State Department asked the Dutch company to take it back from Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines then made a similar deal with another company, TEA Basle. They spent a long time talking with US authorities. Finally, they agreed that the Boeing 737 could fly for Vietnam Airlines. But it had to be outside Vietnam and without Vietnam Airlines' logo. In December 1991, Cathay Pacific and Vietnam Airlines agreed to work together. They would share flights between Hong Kong and Vietnam. This was because Vietnam Airlines' Tupolev Tu-134 planes were too noisy for Kai Tak Airport.

In October 1992, an Airbus A310 was added. Later, a Boeing 767-200ER arrived in January 1993. A Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767-300ER came the next year. In October 1993, the first Airbus A320-200 was rented from Air France. Vietnam Airlines started talking with Air France about a partnership. The French airline agreed to rent its Airbuses to Vietnam Airlines. It also offered customer support and training for pilots and crew. By then, the airline flew to more international places. These included Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney, and Melbourne. In 1993, the airline carried 1.06 million passengers. About 418,000 of them were on international flights.

A New Era: 1993–2006

Vietnam Airlines' former logo.

In 1993, Vietnam Airlines became the country's main airline. This happened after a big reorganization that started four years earlier. In that year, the airline became a state enterprise. It separated from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV). This was similar to how China's CAAC Airlines changed into several smaller airlines. Even though it gained some freedom, it was still known as Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam until 1996.

In February 1994, US President Bill Clinton lifted the trade ban. This allowed Vietnam Airlines to buy planes made in Western countries. So, in April 1994, Vietnam Airlines announced it would stop using its older Soviet planes. By April 1995, its fleet included nine Airbus A320s (all rented from Air France). It also had 11 Antonov An-24s, four ATR72s, two Boeing 707-300s, three Ilyushin Il-18s, nine Tupolev Tu-134s, and three Yakovlev Yak-40s. At this time, it flew to 14 places within Vietnam and 16 international places. These included Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.

On May 27, 1995, Vietnam Airlines Corporation was formed. This included the airline and other aviation businesses. Two Fokker 70 planes were bought in mid-1995 for $50 million. They were meant to replace some Tu-134 planes on domestic routes. They also served as VIP transport. In December 1995, the airline discussed renting three more used Boeing 767-300ERs. These planes would replace rented Boeing 767s in the fleet.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A320-200 at Hong Kong International Airport in 1999.

In September 1996, Vietnam Airlines started offering business class services. In 1999, the airline launched its frequent-flyer program, Golden Lotus Plus. In February 1996, the first of three Boeing 767-300ERs was delivered to the airline for a five-year rental. In October of the same year, two Boeing 767-300ERs and a Boeing 767-200 were returned to their owners. But in early 1997, another Boeing 767-300ER was added. With the freedom to use Western-made planes, Vietnam Airlines thought about getting planes for long-haul flights. This was to better serve Vietnamese people living overseas. They discussed the Airbus A340, Boeing 747, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Meanwhile, two Fokker 70s were bought in May and July. They replaced the twelve Tupolev Tu-134s.

On September 3, 1997, a Tupolev Tu-134B had an incident while landing at Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport in bad weather. This resulted in a loss of life.

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 767-300ER on short final to Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2003. The aircraft is wearing one of the former liveries.

The carrier's first B777-200ER, reg. VN-A141.

A new look for the planes was introduced in early 1998. It was first seen on a Boeing 767. In December 2001, Vietnam Airlines made an important deal with Boeing. This was to buy its first US-made planes. This deal showed the start of trade under a new agreement between the two countries. The deal was for four Boeing 777-200ERs. The cost was $680 million. The first plane was planned to arrive in 2003. These four planes, plus six others of the same type that were rented, became the airline's main planes. They are used for medium and long-distance flights.

In 2001, the airline carried 3.4 million passengers. About 1.9 million of them were on flights within Vietnam. Flights to Beijing started again, and new flights to Kunming were launched. In 2002, Vietnam Airlines thought about renting two Airbus A340-300s. On September 4, 2003, the airline received its first Boeing 777-200ER that it bought from Boeing. On October 28, the airline decided to move its operations in Moscow from Sheremetyevo International Airport to Domodedovo International Airport.

In June 2005, Vietnam Airlines ordered four Boeing 787-8s. Twelve more 787-8s were ordered in late 2007. Some would be bought directly, and others by the airline's company, Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company (VALC). These new planes would help Vietnam Airlines fly to more places. They would also replace some rented planes. Due to delays from Boeing, the airline changed its Boeing 787 order in 2010. They switched from the –8 to the –9 model. They said the 787-8s did not meet all the promises Boeing made. The airline expected to get its first plane of this type in 2015.

On June 20, 2005, the airline started direct flights to Frankfurt. This came after travel between the two countries increased by 70% in 2004–2005. The next year, Vietnam Airlines joined IATA. To do this, Vietnam Airlines had to meet IATA's safety standards.

Growing Bigger: 2007–Present

A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321-231 featuring SkyTeam livery.

In 2007, the Vietnamese government planned to sell some parts of Vietnam Airlines. The government thought about selling 20–30% of the airline's shares to outside investors. The government would keep the rest. This was part of a bigger plan to sell parts of government-owned companies by 2010. Vietnam approved the plan the next year. However, the plan was not carried out. The airline missed its deadline due to the Global Financial Crisis.

On October 1, 2007, the airline and VALC signed an agreement. This was to buy ten Airbus A350 XWBs and 20 more Airbus A321s. The Airbus A350s would add to the Boeing 787s already ordered. This order would make Vietnam Airlines one of the biggest Airbus users in Asia. The two companies also ordered five extra ATR 72-500s in December 2007.

In 2008, Vietnam was chosen to host the 60th Miss World contest. As the country's national airline, Vietnam Airlines was chosen to be the official airline. It was in charge of managing all transport for the contest. This was planned for September and October. However, it was later decided to hold the event in Sanya, China. In August 2008, Vietnam Airlines added Nagoya to its flight network. This was its fourth destination in Japan.

In 2009, Vietnam Airlines and the Government of Cambodia started a joint company. Vietnam Airlines owned 49% and Cambodia owned 51%. The goal was to boost tourism in Cambodia. This new Cambodian national airline was called Cambodia Angkor Air. It started flying in July of that year, using ATR-72 planes. An Airbus A321 joined its fleet in September. Also in 2009, the airline signed a deal for 16 more Airbus A321s and two Airbus A350s. This happened during the Paris Air Show. In October, Vietnam Airlines launched a new website in two languages. This made booking easier. It also started using a new passenger service system.

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at Sydney Airport.

On August 26, 2010, the airline worked with Boeing to improve its plane interiors. This was to make passengers more comfortable. From late September to early October, Vietnam Airlines offered big discounts on 90,000 tickets. This was to celebrate Thang Long-Hanoi's 1000th anniversary. In November 2010, the airline gave Honeywell a $100 million contract. This was to update the Airbus A321s' flight systems. This change was expected to save Vietnam Airlines $10,000 per plane each year.

In January 2011, the airline announced plans to offer shares to the public by the end of 2012. An earlier attempt was stopped by the 2007–2010 financial crisis. The plan was delayed several times and set for mid-2014. Selling shares would give Vietnam Airlines money to grow its fleet and network. The company was valued at $1.5 billion. The government planned to keep 75% of the shares at first. The plan was given to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport in June 2014. The share offering was set to start on November 14, 2014. Two foreign companies had already shown interest. By 2015, the company would be reorganized. This would make it like other government-owned companies. It would also focus more on its main airline business. After this, the Vietnam Airlines group would have 26 independent companies.

Two Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-941 at Narita International Airport.

In February 2012, Vietnam Airlines increased its ownership in the low-cost airline Jetstar Pacific Airlines to 70%. Qantas owned the rest. Vietnam Airlines was the main owner of Vietnam's second-largest airline. Its shares were later moved to the Ministry of Finance. Then they went to the Vietnamese State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC). Vietnam Airlines taking over SCIC's shares in Jetstar Pacific would give the low-cost airline $27 million. This money would be used to update its planes.

In late April 2012, a plane leasing company, ALC, announced an order for eight Boeing 787-9s. These would be rented to Vietnam Airlines. Deliveries were expected to start in 2017. In late May 2012, the airline signed a deal with Vietnam's Eximbank for a $100 million loan. The airline would use this to buy four Airbus A321s. Another $100 million was loaned in April 2013. This was to buy eight Boeing 787s. In October 2013, Vietnam Airlines signed a $1.7 billion contract with General Electric. This was for 40 engines for the Boeing 787 planes the airline had ordered. In July 2014, a new flight route from Hanoi to Tokyo-Haneda was started.

A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321neo at Da Nang International Airport (2023)

Vietnam Airlines received its first Airbus A350-900 in late June 2015. This made it the second airline in the world to use this type of plane. In August 2015, the airline's first Boeing 787-9 joined the fleet. In November 2018, the airline received its first Airbus A321neo. Vietnam Airlines stopped being part of Cambodia Angkor Airlines in April 2020. All its shares were sold. In the same year, it bought all of Qantas's shares in Jetstar Pacific. This airline was then renamed Pacific Airlines. In November 2021, Vietnam Airlines started its first direct non-stop flight to the United States. This flight went from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco.

How Vietnam Airlines Works

Vietnam Airlines JSC

Native name	Tổng Công Ty Hàng Không Việt Nam - CTCP (lit. Vietnam Airlines Corporation - JSC)
Type	Government-owned Joint-stock company
Traded as	HOSE: HVN
Industry	Airline industry
Founded	1996 (with roots tracing back to 1954)
Headquarters	Long Bien District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Area served	Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania
Key people	Dang Ngoc Hoa (Chairman) Le Hong Ha (President & CEO)
Services	Aircraft maintenance and overhaul, catering, cargo and passenger transport
Revenue	40,613 billion VNĐ (2020)
Net income	-4.97 trillion VNĐ [$216 million] (1Q2021)
Owner	Government of Vietnam
Number of employees	18,641 (2021)
Parent	Government of Vietnam (86.34%) Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (55.2%) State Capital Investment Corporation (31.14%) ANA Holdings (5.62%)
Subsidiaries	Pacific Airlines Vietnam Air Service Co.

Vietnam Airlines Company Limited was a company fully owned by the government of Vietnam. It was reorganized from Vietnam Airlines Corporation in June 2010. Then, in 2015, it officially became Vietnam Airlines Joint Stock Company. The airline's job is to help the country's economy. It flies passengers and cargo. It also has duties like supporting its workers and paying taxes.

A team of seven managers leads the airline. The Prime Minister of Vietnam chooses these managers. As of September 2022, Dang Ngoc Hoa is the chairman. Le Hong Ha is the President and CEO. In December 2019, the whole Vietnam Airlines Group had 21,255 employees. Vietnam Airlines itself employed 6,409 people. The airline's main office is in the Long Bien District of Hanoi. Before, it was at Gia Lam Airport.

When Vietnam Airlines fully owned Pacific Airlines, the company started using the name Vietnam Airlines Group. This group includes three airlines owned by Vietnam Airlines. These are Vietnam Airlines (the main one), Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company.

Pilot Training

In 2009, Vietnam Airlines, Airbus, and ESMA Aviation Academy started a company called Bay Viet Flight Training. Its goal was to train pilots in Vietnam. They hoped to have up to 100 new pilots each year. In October 2010, the company planned to train 60 pilots in Vietnam during 2011–2012. In 2010, Vietnam Airlines needed 636 pilots. 60% of them were Vietnamese. The airline planned to increase this to 75% by 2015. This meant at least 100 new pilots each year from 2010 to 2015. Vietnam Airlines also sends its pilot students to CAE Global Academy Phoenix in Arizona, United States, for training.

Money Matters

Vietnam Airlines saw a big increase in passengers each year until 1997. Then, the Asian Financial Crisis and other things caused the airline to lose some profits. But the airline still made money during the crisis. In 1996, the airline carried 2.5 million passengers. This was 18% more than in 1995. In 2002, the airline carried over 4 million passengers. This was an 18% increase from the year before. Its cargo transport also went up by 20%. This led to a profit of $35.77 million in 2002.

Even with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, the airline made a $26.2 million profit in 2003. In 2006, it carried 6.8 million passengers. About 3.7 million were on international flights. It earned nearly $1.37 billion in revenue in the first 11 months. In 2007, Vietnam Airlines carried over 9 million passengers. 4 million of these were international travelers. That year, the airline made a gross profit of $23 million from $1.23 billion in revenue. It also moved 115,100 tons of cargo. In 2009, the airline's revenue was $1.3 billion. This was less than the $1.56 billion it earned the year before. During this time, Vietnam Airlines carried 9.3 million passengers. In 2012, the company's total revenue was $2.4 billion. Its profits were $3.3 million. The next year, the airline made a $25 million gross profit.

In February 2012, Vietnam Airlines had about 40% of the market share for international passengers flying to and from Vietnam. At that time, Vietnam Airlines controlled 77% of the domestic airline market. Jetstar Pacific covered 14%. As of December 2012, Vietnam Airlines controlled just under 70% of the domestic market. In July 2021, it was announced that Vietnam Airlines employees could buy 70 million shares. This happened because a key investor, ANA Holdings, transferred shares to 15,100 employees of the Vietnam Airlines Group.

Other Companies in the Group

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 777-200ER being catered by Vietnam Air Caterers (since renamed Vietnam Airlines Caterers) at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The Vietnam Airlines Group has at least 20 smaller companies and partners. By the end of its reorganization in 2015, the company planned to sell its shares in more than 10 businesses.

Fixing and Making Planes

Vietnam Airlines is getting more involved in fixing, overhauling, and making aircraft. Maintenance work is done by Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO). This company started on January 1, 2009. VAECO was formed by combining two aircraft maintenance bases. VAECO does maintenance and technical services for Vietnam Airlines and other airlines. This company marks a new step for aircraft maintenance in Vietnam. As of 2013, VAECO could do many types of maintenance on different planes. This included major checks for the Boeing 777, Airbus A330, Airbus A320, and Airbus A321. It also did the most thorough checks for the ATR 72 and Fokker 70.

Besides its own maintenance places, Vietnam Airlines also has deals with other airlines and maintenance companies. Currently, there are no factories in Vietnam that make aircraft or parts. However, Boeing sells 35% of its products in Vietnam. GE Aviation supplies jet engines for Boeing planes. For the future, Vietnam Airlines plans to build a maintenance factory. It will work with Rolls-Royce and other companies. It has also signed an agreement with EADS, a European aerospace company. This agreement would let the company assemble and make plane parts in the future.

Where Vietnam Airlines Flies

Vietnam Airlines flies to places in Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. It has about 300 flights every day. The airline flies to 21 places within Vietnam and 43 places internationally. It also has codeshare agreements with other airlines for more routes. Some of these routes go to North America.

Tết Holiday Flights

Vietnam Airlines usually adds more flights between Vietnamese cities during the annual Tết celebration. This is because many people travel then. Tết is Vietnam's most important holiday. It can happen from late January to mid-February. Airlines schedule hundreds of extra flights during this time. This helps Vietnamese people go back to their families, often in rural areas, to celebrate. In 2010, the airline increased its seats by 45% to 120% on some domestic routes. In 2011, it added more than 100,000 seats on ten routes. About 63,000 of these seats were between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This was a big 41% increase compared to normal days. In 2013, the airline added an extra 174,000 seats during the holiday. 82,000 of these were on the main route between its two biggest hubs.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-941 in SkyTeam livery at Frankfurt Airport (2018).

Airline Groups

Vietnam Airlines joined the SkyTeam airline alliance on June 10, 2010.

Shared Flights

Vietnam Airlines shares flights with these airlines:

Vietnam Airlines' Planes

What They Fly Now

The Airbus A321-200 is the backbone of the carrier's fleet.

The first Boeing 787-10 of Vietnam Airlines, registration VN-A879. The 787-10 has the largest capacity of any aircraft in the current fleet of Vietnam Airlines.

As of September 2023, Vietnam Airlines uses these planes:

Planes They Used Before

A Vietnam Airlines Fokker 70 at Pochentong Airport in 2004.

An Airbus A330-200 of Vietnam Airlines in 2013.

Since it started in 1956, the airline has used many different types of planes. These include planes from the Soviet Union, America, and Europe. Now, the airline only uses Boeing and Airbus planes, as all Soviet-made planes have been retired. Vietnam Airlines has used these planes in the past:

What to Expect on Board

Fun on Flights

On flights using Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 planes, Vietnam Airlines has personal TVs for entertainment. On flights with Airbus A321neo planes, you can use your own devices for entertainment. You can watch movies, play games, watch TV shows, listen to audiobooks, and enjoy music. Vietnam Airlines also offers two magazines, Heritage and Heritage Fashion, plus other things to read.

Different Seating Classes

Business Class

Business class is the highest of the three seating classes. It offers much more than economy class. On Airbus A321s, the seats recline and are arranged in a 2-2 pattern. These seats have 45 inches of space for your legs and can recline 10 degrees. They also have foot and leg rests. On Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s, the seats can lie flat. They are arranged in a 1-2-1 pattern. A 15.4-inch entertainment screen is available on these planes. Hot meals are served on flights longer than two hours. Snacks are offered on flights over 90 minutes.

Premium Economy

Vietnam Airlines' premium economy class has wider seats and more legroom than Economy. It offers 38-42 inches of seat pitch and 7-8 inches of recline. This class is only on flights with Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A350 planes. On these flights, hot meals are served. You can choose from Vietnamese foods and popular world dishes. You also get a personal care bag with useful items. Special cosmetics and water are available in the restroom on longer flights. Hot meals are served on flights longer than two hours. Snacks are offered on flights over 90 minutes.

Economy Class

Economy class is available on all Vietnam Airlines flights. Seats in this class are 32 inches wide. The space between seats is 31-32 inches. Seats can recline from 6 to 13 degrees (5-6 inches). Hot meals are served on flights longer than two hours. Snacks are offered on flights over 90 minutes.

Lotusmiles Program

Lotusmiles is the airline's program for frequent flyers. It has five levels: Silver, Titanium, Gold, Platinum, and Million Miler. Each level offers different benefits. Joining the program is free. Members can earn miles in many ways. You can earn miles by flying with Vietnam Airlines Group airlines, SkyTeam airlines, or other partner airlines. The miles you earn depend on how far you fly and your seating class. You can also earn miles by shopping with special credit cards or using services from partners like Booking.com. You can use your earned miles to buy tickets, items at Lotusmall, or get vouchers for Vingroup services.

Safety and Incidents

According to Aviation Safety Network, Vietnam Airlines has had a few notable safety events since 1951. Some of these events involved serious outcomes. The most significant events involved older, Soviet-built aircraft and happened during landing. The airline has worked to improve its safety standards over the years. It is a member of IATA, which means it meets international safety requirements.

See also

In Spanish: Vietnam Airlines para niños

• Air transport in Vietnam
• List of airlines of Vietnam