VIETNAM AIRLINES ANNOUNCES SWITCH TO HEATHROW FROM SUMMER 2015

National carrier Vietnam Airlines has confirmed that as of 31 March 2015, its nonstop UK services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will operate from Heathrow. The airline will join its fellow SkyTeam members at Terminal 4.

Vietnam Airlines’ switch from Gatwick to Heathrow will see a substantial increase in frequency. Initially rising from four to five flights per week to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, route frequency will be further increased to a daily service in 2016.

The services will continue to be operated by Boeing 777-200ER until July 2015, when Vietnam Airlines will deploy new Boeing 787-9s on its UK routes. Heathrow will be the first international destination on the Vietnam Airlines network to be served by the new next-generation Dreamliners. The new aircraft will feature in-flight WiFi and fully flat beds in Business Class, and will also herald the launch of Vietnam Airlines’ new branding and corporate identity – firmly establishing it as the leading carrier for the Indochina region.

By the second quarter of 2015, Vietnam Airlines will be the first airline in Asia that receives and puts into operation two types of new generation aircraft Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350 together in the fleet. The airline also aims to upgrade service quality to 4 star international standards in 2015.

The Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Airlines, Dr Pham Ngoc Minh, commented,
“Our vision is to become among the top in South East Asia by 2020. We also set the target to be a major network carrier, continue to concentrate on Indochina sub-region and feed this traffic into selected long haul destinations. To realize this target, we have a delivery schedule of new generation aircraft including 33 Airbus A350 WXB and Boeing 787-9 within three years starting from 2015, expand flight network and improve service quality in order to meet the customer needs.
Less than four years after successfully launching the first ever nonstop services between the UK and Vietnam, we remain extremely grateful to Gatwick airport for its support and we are delighted that our passengers will soon be able to enjoy daily flights on the very latest and most comfortable aircraft, from one of the world’s most important, advanced and well-connected international hub airports”.

Heathrow’s Chief Executive Officer, John Holland-Kaye, also highlighted the significance of Vietnam Airlines’ decision, saying “We are delighted that Vietnam Airlines has chosen to operate its new Dreamliner 787 fleet from Heathrow, securing regular direct flights from the UK to a vital emerging market. This demonstrates once again that only a strong hub airport like Heathrow, with a mix of premium direct and transfer passengers, can help Britain win the race for growth.

With Vietnam identified by the government as one of the top 20 growth markets for UK businesses, this new route shows how Heathrow expansion is the best solution for the UK economy, creating up to £211bn in GDP and 180,000 new jobs.”

Lord Puttnam, UK Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, said "As an island trading nation, air links in to fast growing import markets like Vietnam are vital for the UK’s economic growth prospects. That’s why I am delighted to welcome the announcement that Vietnam Airlines will now have a daily, direct route to Britain’s hub airport, helping British business to compete in the global race.”

Still the only nonstop services between the UK and Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines’ flights from Heathrow will operate to Hanoi on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays and to Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Services to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will depart Heathrow at 1345hrs, with arrivals in Hanoi at 0650hrs the following day; and arrivals in Ho Chi Minh City at 0710hrs the following day.