Vietnam Airlines has signed a contract for an additional ten A321 aircraft, bringing

Vietnam Airlines has signed a contract for an additional ten A321 aircraft, bringing total orders for Airbus aircraft to fifteen. The airline placed its initial order with Airbus for five A321 aircraft in October 2002, having been an operator of A320 Family aircraft on lease since late 1993. Deliveries of the first purchased aircraft commenced in July 2004, with the Airbus fleet currently comprising of six A321s and ten A320s. The first of the additional A321s will be delivered in spring 2006.The fleet of A320 Family aircraft currently operate on an extensive domestic and regional network.

“The A320 and A321 have proved to be an enormous success in service with Vietnam Airlines for more than a decade. The latest order for the A321 confirms our long term confidence in the product and will enable Vietnam Airlines to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Vietnamese market,” said Vietnam Airlines’ President Nguyen Xuan Hien. "We are also particularly proud that the excellent relationship between Vietnam Airlines and Airbus has significantly contributed to the development of economic and trade co-operation between Vietnam and Europe."

“Vietnam Airlines was one of the earliest operators of the A320 in Asia and we are naturally delighted that the airline continues to have great confidence in our products for its future development. With its outstanding passenger appeal and low operating costs, I am confident that the A320 Family will help keep Vietnam Airlines ahead in the highly competitive Asian market.” said Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Noël Forgeard.

The A320 Family features the most modern design, the widest and most comfortable cabin, and the highest degree of operational commonality of any single-aisle aircraft. It also has great economics, through lower fuel burn and maintenance costs, superior short field performance and a proven worth as an excellent financial investment. The A320 Family is a firm favourite with passengers, airlines and the investment community alike, consistently coming top in independent surveys, financial and operator polls.

Widely accepted as the industry standard, the best–selling Airbus A320 Family comprises - the A318, A319, A320 and A321. All share the same airframe – only the fuselage lengths differ – plus the same cockpits, systems and engines, delivering unmatched commonality and savings.

Total orders for the A320 Family from Asia–Pacific exceed 430 aircraft, with over 340 aircraft currently in service with 30 carriers across the region.

Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE Systems.



More...