Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presents second-class Independence Order to Flight Crew 919 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – As a national flag carrierand reserve force for national security and defence, Vietnam Airlines shouldstrive to become the first 5-star airline of Vietnam in the earliest time,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.
He made the statement while attending a ceremonyin Hanoi on May 11 to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of 919 TransportAir Force Regiment, the predecessor of Flight Crew 919, which is VietnamAirlines today.
From a regiment in the past, Flight Crew 919 hasnow become a core unit of the 4-star airline, he said, adding that it has beentaking the lead in applying the world’s most advanced technology, training andmanaging over 1,000 pilots, including foreign ones, to operate a series of newgeneration aircraft to transport passengers and goods safely.
The PM expressed his pleasure at the increasingnumber of Vietnamese pilots in Vietnam Airlines, accounting for up to 75percent.
Vietnam Airlines can fully master the world'smost advanced aircraft generations such as Boeing 787 and Airbus 350, he said proudly.
The PM recalled the historical achievements ofthe Vietnam civil aviation in 2011 when Vietnam Airlines and Flight Crew 919conducted 10 flights by Boeing 777 on 14 consecutive days, safely transportingover 3,000 Vietnamese citizens to return home and nearly 13.5 tonnes of reliefgoods in a campaign to save Vietnamese workers from Libya’s civil war.
While stressing the role of Vietnam Airlines andthe civil aviation sector in the country’s new period of economic development,the Government leader asked the airline to exert more efforts to realise thegoal of making tourism a spearhead economy, accounting for over 10 percent of thenational gross domestic product (GDP).
He asked the airline to ensure the maintenanceof flight safety and provision of high-quality human resources.
The PM also assigned the State CapitalManagement Committee at Enterprises and the Ministry of Transport to focus ondirecting Vietnam Airlines in the process of equitisation and restructuring toguarantee efficiency and prevent negative phenomena.
On the occasion, he presented the second-classIndependence Order to Flight Crew 919.
Vietnam Airlines, a member of SkyTeam alliance,is operating 90 domestic and international air routes. -VNA
VNA
