Vietnam Airlines to Receive First 787-9 in May; A350-900 in June

Vietnam Airlines will take delivery of the first of 19 Boeing 787-9s in May, and the first of 14 Airbus A350-900s in June. The SkyTeam carrier ordered the Boeing 787-8 in 2007 and converted the order to the larger model 787-9 in October 2010. It also ordered the A350s in 2007.

The 787-9 fleet will offer two different cabin layouts - the 274-seat cabin features 28 business class, 35 premium economy and 211 economy class seats; the 311-seat configuration features 28 business class and 283 economy class seats. 787-9 deliveries should be completed by 2018.

The first 787-9 scheduled services will begin in June from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to London Gatwick. From November, the Vietnam flag carrier will add 787 flights to Frankfurt, exchanging 777-200ERs on both routes.

Vietnam Airlines became the second carrier after Qatar Airways to add the Airbus A350-900 to its fleet. It also offers two different cabin layouts, each featuring 305 seats (29 business/45 premium economy/231economy, and 29 business/36 premium economy/240 economy).

The first A350 route is scheduled from Vietnam to Paris Charles de Gaulle, making Vietnam Airlines the first carrier in the Far East to fly the A350 XWB.

Vietnam Airlines' fleet also includes Airbus A330-200s, A320/321s, ATR 72s, Boeing 777-200ERs and Fokker 70s, according to the carrier's website.