Nhan Dan Online - The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines inaugurated its new branch office at 51-53, Avenue Champs Elysee in Paris, France on October 23 in the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to France Le Kinh Tai.

The event is an indication of Vietnam Airlines’ preparation to expand the French market to serve its future development.

President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines, Pham Ngoc Minh, said that the French route is now one of the profit makers of Vietnam Airlines. Therefore, he committed for a further investment to strengthen and consolidate the French market.

“Starting from winter 2009, in co-operation with Air France, we will increase our frequencies up to 9 non-stop flights per week which will make Paris the most important hub for Vietnam Airlines in Europe,” he said.

In recent years, the French route has seen a significant growth. From the first days with three flights per week transiting via Dubai, Vietnam Airlines currently operates daily non-stop flights between Vietnam and France with an average load of over 85% per year.

He also informed that Vietnam Airlines had implemented an ambitious development plan in the forthcoming years in the forthcoming years. According to the recent approval of the Government, the fleet will be composed of 107 modern aircraft in 2015 and more than 150 aircrafts in 2020.

“This plan will facilitate our ambition to become the second largest airline in Southeast Asia,” he stressed adding that Vietnam Airlines has signed several agreements to purchase newest aircraft from Boeing and Airbus such as Boeing B787-9 and A350-900 XWB.

This is the third time Vietnam Airlines has moved its branch office since its operation in France in 1995. Vietnam Airlines launched its non-stop route to France since 2003.

By KHAI HOAN and HUY THANG
Nhan Dan’s France-based correspondents