USA Today’s Today in the Sky blog is reporting that Vietnam Airlines is ordering 4 A-380 and 2 A-350XWB aircraft from Airbus and this strikes me as a bit odd.   The airline says it will use the aircraft for possible long haul routes to the United States and Europe but a little background into the airline tells me this might either be a vanity order or a political order.

First, while Vietnam Airlines does own and operate Airbus aircraft already (A-320 series and A-330 series), it’s chosen high capacity, long haul aircraft is the 777-200 at present (it owns 12) and has orders for the 787-800 and 787-900 (16 total with an original entry into service of 2010).   The 777-200 is an excellent aircraft for the airline for long haul, high capacity routes it might fly to both Europe and the United States already and if additional range or capacity is needed, they could add the 777-200LR or 777-300ER to the fleet and keep commonality in their fleet.  In addition, their soon to be arriving 787 aircraft are also already capable of the distances needed and engine type selections (not yet indicated) could already permit them to experience savings from similar (although not exactly the same) types being operated between the two aircraft (GE or RR).

In addition, the current economy has reduced leisure travel to Vietnam from both Europe and North America so much that one really does wonder how Vietnam Airlines expects to keep those A-380 aircraft full year round.  It is an aircraft that best serves high density, long haul routes that see lots of traffic all year.  In addition, the A350-900XWB doesn’t really offer them more in capacity over the 777 and offers less lift for cargo on similar long haul routes.   The kinds of routes that Vietnam Airlines is most likely to fly are already best served with a fleet in place (777) and a fleet about to arrive (787).

I have an odd feeling that this order is political.   Airbus hasn’t seen a new order for the A-380 since 2006 and its been a very dry season for the A-350 as well.  With the political ties that exist between France and Vietnam and the report that Vietnam will also see Airbus contract to have certain parts made in Vietnam, this feels like France once again bolstering Airbus and a much smaller state with economic ties to France giving in to pressure.  I suspect the likelihood of an Airbus A-380 ever showing up in Vietnam Airlines blue livery is very small if at all.  

France is one of Vietnam’s largest trade partners at present and it’s notable that this order came after France’s Prime Minister made a personal visit to Vietnam to promote trade between the two countries.  It has been quite common for French Prime Minister and French President to make visits to seal deals on behalf of Airbus in the past.

Filed under: Airline Fleets, Airline News by ajax
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