Vietnam Airlines is to negotiate a deal for 10 more Boeing 787s on the instructions of Vietnam's new prime minister, writes Leithen Francis.
The airline says new prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung has granted approval for it to negotiate with Boeing for the twinjets, which it plans to acquire on finance or operating leases. Last year the carrier firmed up a purchase order for four 787-8s for delivery in 2009-10. It says the additional aircraft are likely to be the -9 and -10 variants and be delivered around 2012.
State-owned Vietnam Airlines says it plans to use some of the 787s for services from Vietnam to the USA, a sector that it has yet to enter.
Source: Flight International
