Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. (VALC) have finalized an order for a total of 12 Boeing 787-8s with a list value of approximately $2 billion. Vietnam Airlines will take four of the new airplanes and VALC will purchase the remaining eight Dreamliners, leasing them to Vietnam Airlines. This is the second order for the 787 Dreamliner by the airline, following a previous order for four airplanes in 2005.
The airline’s first 787-8, from the previous order, is planned for delivery in 2009. Vietnam Airlines plans to operate a total of 20 purchased and leased 787s by 2015, and 28 Dreamliners by the year 2020, making the airplane a key element in the airline’s international strategy.
