Under theagreement, Boeing Flight Services, a business unit of Boeing CommercialAviation Services, will provide flight training to the airline's new 787Dreamliner fleet at Boeing's training campus in Singapore. Nearly 90Vietnam Airlines’ pilots are expected to undergo training this year.
ExecutiveVice-President of Vietnam Airlines Phan Xuan Duc said with Boeing'sexperience and expertise, the airline was confident that it would have asmooth entry into service with the training and operational supportthey provide.
"This expanding cooperation will not onlystrengthen the relationship between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing, butalso provide Vietnam Airlines enough capability to masterstate-of-the-art technologies and enable Vietnamese pilots to directlyoperate the most modern aircraft in the world," Duc said.
Vice-Presidentof Boeing Flight Services Sherry Carbary said, "This is just one way weare giving airlines a competitive edge, by creating tailored trainingsolutions so they can focus on what really matters, which is keepingpilots and airplanes flying revenue flights."
The airline willinitially use the new plane on the Hanoi - HCM City route, beforeoperating it on an international route from Vietnam to Heathrow Airportin London. It will become the first airline in the region to operate thenew Boeing aircraft on direct routes from Southeast Asia to Europe.
Asper the plan, Vietnam Airlines will have 33 wide-body aircrafts byearly 2019, of which 19 will be Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and 14Airbus A350-900 XWB (including newly purchased and rented ones).-VNA