After a seven-year wait, Vietnam Airlines has been granted a slot at Heathrow Airport.
The national Vietnamese carrier currently serves the UK capital via London Gatwick, but will begin operating direct services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to London Heathrow as of July this year.
The new routes will be served by the new B787 Dreamliner instead of the B777-200ER used at the moment.
“Our vision, and that of the government of Vietnam, is for Vietnam Airlines to become the major carrier in Southeast Asia – and this move represents a tremendous step forwards in achieving that goal,” said Vietnam Airlines chief executive Dr Pham Ngoc Minh.
Due to capacity issues at Heathrow, slot availability for long-haul services is notoriously scarce, with over thirty airlines currently on the waiting list.
Heathrow’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye remarked that the new flights would contribute towards Britain’s growth potential.
“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,” said Holland-Kaye.
For more information, visit vietnamairlines.com
Clement Huang
