Mr Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Executive Vice President, Vietnam Airlines (second right), welcoming the pilots, Captains Dang Ngoc Co (second left) and Tran Tuan Hung (left)

National carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced the arrival in Hanoi of the first of its new B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. After touching down at the capital’s Noi Bai Airport at 1710 (local time) on 2 August aircraft VN-A861 was officially welcomed by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines.

This aircraft will go straight into operation on domestic services between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from 4 August, before making its international debut on Vietnam Airlines’ nonstop routes to London in September – making it the first Asian airline to operate both Boeing and Airbus’ modern next-generation aircraft at the same time. The airline will also become the first to operate the new B787-9 Dreamliner nonstop between South East Asia and Europe, it is understood.

This is the first of a total of 19 Boeing 787s which will be delivered to Vietnam Airlines by 2019, as part of a major fleet upgrade programme which also includes 14 Airbus A350-900 XWBs. These new aircraft will replace the airline’s entire fleet of wide bodied aircraft while maintaining its costeffectiveness on long-haul and intercontinental routes. Vietnam Airlines’ next Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is due to be delivered on 10 August 2015.