Vietnam Airlines joins the club

SKYTEAM has welcomed Vietnam Airlines as its first member in Southeast Asia.  Throwing off its background as a one time French colony, and the location of a nasty civil war, Vietnam has made vast progress in recent times.  The importance of the formal acceptance occasion was marked by the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Leo van Wijk, Chairman of the SkyTeam Governing Board.  The airline flies to 20 destinations domestically, and to another 28 internationally.  Its current fleet of 64 aircraft includes 30 Airbus A320 series, nine Airbus A330s and ten Boeing 777-200ERs.  ATR 72 aircraft are used for domestic services and on order are 16 Boeing 777s.  The airline is state-run with plans for privatisation. www.vietnamairlines.com

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