Vietnam Airlines Opens More Doors to Tourism in Europe With New Aircraft
Photo Credit: Vietnam Airlines A350-900. Airbus
Skift Take
There is no over-the-top design here, especially not on the leased aircraft — it's all out of the catalogue — but it ticks all the boxes on comfort and convenience and is ideally suited for the market in these routes.
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In a ceremony today in Toulouse, Vietnam Airlines has become the world's second airline to fly the A350XWB aircraft — it is the first airline SkyTeam alliance member, and the first Asian carrier to fly Airbus' latest NextGen aircraft.
This aircraft will allow Vietnam Airlines to boost its traffic in Europe for business and tourism, capitalizing on Vietnam's recent lifting of Visa requirements for citizens of five high-demand European countries. The airline also has plans to upgrade its long-haul fleet with new aircraft, from both Airbus and Boeing, which will appeal to passengers and keep its long-haul routes cost-effective.
Skift was at Toulouse for the handover ceremony and a walk-through of the new cabin.
Opening Doors to More of Europe
The Vietnamese government has recently allowed citizens of France, Germany, UK, Spain and Italy visa exemptions — starting on July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 — for st
