Aviation sector flies high

Airbus last week gained two contracts to provide 30 aircraft for Vietnam Airlines and the Vietnam Aircraft leasing Company.

The two contracts are worth about $3.5 billion, the local aviation sector’s largest ever aircraft deals.
Under the contracts, Airbus will sell 10 new generation Airbus A350-900 and 20 Airbus A321-200 with the first delivery of this deal to be on 2012.

John J. Leahy, chief operating officer of Airbus, said the country’s rapid economic growth and the 20 per cent annual growth of Vietnam’s aviation sector were offering great opportunities to international aircraft producers.
“Vietnam is one of three main markets that Airbus is focusing on, with the two others being China and India. We will tighten the close relationship with Vietnamese partners to provide more aircraft to the market,” Leahy said.

“I am sure this record will not last, as the booming Vietnamese economy will certainly lead to further investment,” said Leahy.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates a young fleet of 44 modern aircraft and plans to expand its fleet to 86 and 110 aircraft by 2015 and 2020, respectively.

Recently, the airline announced it would buy five more ATR 72-500 aircraft to serve domestic routes.
“We plan to be one of the largest airlines in the region so we would continue investing in our fleet,” said Pham Ngoc Minh, the newly appointed general director of Vietnam Airlines. Boeing, the main competitor of Airbus, is also polishing its image in Vietnam.

In 2005, Vietnam Airlines signed a contract to purchase four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and will put these aircraft into operation in 2009 and 2010.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding has been signed for the Vietnamese firms to order 12 additional and new generation Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with the state-of-the-art technology and operational cost efficiency.

Last September, Airbus introduced its large A380 airplane in Hanoi. The group expects to gain a contract providing A380 airplanes to Vietnam Airlines in 2013.
After the A380 performance in Hanoi, Canadian aircraft producer Bombardier introduced its Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
“Vietnam has a rapidly growing economy with a need for world-class aircraft”, remarked Canadian Ambassador Gabriel-M. Lessard.

“Bombardier can offer some of the best airplanes in the world,” he added.
Air travel is taking off in the country with a 85 million population, where the economy is growing at 8 per cent a year and a new middle class is flying tourism and business.
The sky has been opened for private companies and the nation’s first private flyer VietJetAir was last week established.
VietJetAir plans to use either Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 aircraft to operate its flights.