VietNamNet Bridge – The low-cost airline VietJet on Sunday, March 22, welcomed the 9000th aircraft made by Airbus at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City.

This is VietJet’s first A321 aircraft and the fifth plane from its order of 100 from Airbus.

The new aircraft, coded VN-A65, which was purchased in a deal financed by BNP Paribas bank (France) and Jackson Square (Japan), has been emblazoned with the words: “Airbus’ 9000th aircraft”.

Earlier the aircraft delivery ceremony was celebrated in Hamburg (Germany) with the attendance of Airbus Vice President Nico Petersen and the Vietnam Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh.

The A320 family is the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft. The A321 features Sharklets wingtip devices. The widest passenger cabin in its class, The A321 also boasts extended service intervals for the airframe and the stretched-fuselage can seat up to 220 passengers in a high-density arrangement.

Airbus has brought the benefits of increased maximum seating capacities to all A321 designs with further optimized cabin space and increased exit limits while retaining the company’s modern, comfort standards.

The new A321 aircraft will take Vietjet’s fleet up to 23 aircraft, facilitating the airline’s expansion plans, which include opening longer haul routes to South Korea, Japan, and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region.

“We are very proud to welcome a new A321 to our family in line with our expansion plans in Asia Pacific. We believe that the new fleet will further facilitate our business plan as well as offer customers more and more wonderful flying experiences. Once again, we are delighted to welcome the 9000th aircraft of Airbus into our enthusiastic family,” said Vietjet Managing Director Luu Duc Khanh.

“It is a great honor for us to deliver the 9000th aircraft to Vietjet – a rising star among airlines in Asia. The new A321 will boost Vietjet’s operation to a new level in terms of cost efficiency for single-aisle aircraft,” John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer-Customers of Airbus, said at the handover ceremony.

Receiving its first A321 is a significant milestone in Vietjet’s strategic business plan after three years of operations. Vietjet has fast become one of the most popular airlines in Vietnam and is now enjoying its services to multiple markets across Southeast Asia and further afield in Asia.

By adding more brand new, modern aircraft, Vietjet will improve its cost efficiency, and as a result be able to offer even better air fares to customers while expanding its flight network and contributing to the development of the aviation industry in Vietnam and in the region.

VietJet is the first privately owned airline in Vietnam, with a fleet of 22 Airbus A320 aircraft and one Airbus A321 aircraft. Vietjet operates 150 flights per day and has transported over 10 million passengers in just over three years. The airline currently operates 28 local and international routes across the country and the region with flights to destinations in Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Cambodia.

PV