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Tag: bilateral

Vietnam Airlines Selects 50 Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes to Grow its Fleet

Hanoi, Vietnam, September 11, 2023, PRNewswire – Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVNannounced today the carrier has selected the 737 MAX family to expand its single-aisle fleet, with a commitment to order 50 737-8 airplanes. With enhanced fuel efficiency and environmental performance, the 737 MAX will provide best-in-class flexibility for Vietnam’s growing aviation market. The commitment was announced during a signing ceremony with Vietnamese government leaders on Monday, September 11.

U.S. and Vietnam officials said the commitment will bolster jobs in both countries and strengthen the bilateral economic partnership. Building on Boeing’s long history of collaboration with Vietnam’s civil aviation industry, the carrier’s 737 MAX fleet will support the country’s goal of becoming a leading aviation hub.

Since the launch, more than 100 customers around the world have placed firm orders for more than 5,600 737 MAX airplanes. The 737 MAX reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% and has a smaller noise footprint than airplanes it replaces. The jets offer increased comfort and relaxation for passengers, with modern sculpted sidewalls, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead storage bins.

The 737 MAX family will allow Vietnam Airlines to fly up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km) to serve increasingly popular international and regional routes. The carrier currently operates a fleet of 15 787 Dreamliner jets and serves over 50 destinations in 17 countries. A member of the SkyTeam Alliance, passengers flying on Vietnam Airlines or any of its 18 partners can earn and redeem miles for travel to 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Boeing is committed to its strong relationships with Vietnamese suppliers and partnering to create a strong, efficient and resilient global supply chain to deliver the highest quality products and services for our customers. Today, Boeing has a corporate office in Hanoi and Field Service Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

(From left to right) Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang, Technical Executive Vice President, Vietnam Airlines; Mr. Le Hong Ha, President and CEO, Vietnam Airlines; Dr. Brendan Nelson, President, Boeing Global; Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman, Vietnam Airlines; Mr. Brad McMullen, Senior Vice President Boeing Commercial Sales; and Marketing; Mr. Michael Nguyen, Managing Director, Boeing Vietnam gather on Sept. 11 in Hanoi to celebrate Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to 50 737-8 MAX airplanes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US & China to Allow 4 Weekly Flights Each for Airlines

  • Delta to fly next week
FILE PHOTO: Delta Air Lines passenger planes parked in Birmingham

(Reuters) – The United States and China will each allow four weekly flights between the two countries, the U.S. Transportation Department said on Monday, easing a standoff on travel restrictions in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. government still hopes China will agree to restore full U.S. flight rights under their bilateral aviation agreement, the Transportation Department said Monday in its revised order on China flights.

“As the Chinese government allows more flights by U.S. carriers, we will reciprocate,” it said.

The United States had threatened to bar Chinese passenger flights on June 16 due to Beijing’s curbs on U.S. airlines amid simmering tensions between the world’s two largest economies, and has raised concerns about the number of charter flights Chinese carriers want to fly.

Among U.S. airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had each sought to restart daily passenger flights to China in June but changed their plans in the absence of government approval.

Following China’s agreement to allow four U.S. flights total, Delta said it would operate two flights to Shanghai from Seattle next week and once weekly flights from Seattle and Detroit beginning in July, all via Seoul.

United said it was aiming to re-launch service to China in the weeks ahead.

Chinese authorities have already agreed to some changes on requirements for U.S. carriers, including allowing temperature checks to be done before flights take off for China, rather than mid-flight as previously discussed, a person briefed on the matter said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Grant McCool and Stephen Coates)

Russia’s St Petersburg Airport Expects to Host Ryanair, Others in 2020

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Low-cost airline Ryanair and other budget carriers are expected to start flying from Russia’s St Petersburg airport in 2020, the Russian Transport Ministry said.

The move is part of Russia’s plan to boost tourist flows to St Petersburg and will mean more competition for Russian air carriers, including national flag carrier Aeroflot.

The ministry said on Tuesday that Ryanair, EasyJet, WizzAir, Volotea, Air Baltic and Fly One had expressed interest in flights from St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport, Russia’s fourth largest after Moscow’s three major hubs.

It said the companies had applied for flights from Pulkovo, coded LED by the International Air Transport Association, to 22 countries, including Britain, Germany and France.

Russia will introduce a so-called “Open Skies” regime for the companies for five years, the ministry said, allowing airlines to fly to St Petersburg without requiring the traditional bilateral inter-governmental agreements.

The move follows the introduction of a special electronic visa system for tourists visiting St Petersburg which nationals from 53 countries can take advantage of.

(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Writing by Andrey Ostroukh,; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Ed Osmond)

France and Germany Sign Deals on Space and Arms Exports

PARIS, Oct 16 (Reuters) – France and Germany have signed a binding deal on arm exports control rules for jointly developed programmes, such as the tank and the warplane of the future, the two countries said on Wednesday in a statement issued after a joint cabinet meeting held in Toulouse.

German curbs on arms exports to non-European Union or non-NATO countries have been a thorn in bilateral co-operation for years. Germany’s SPD party, part of the ruling coalition, is particularly concerned about the trade.

According to the deal signed on Wednesday, Germany will not block French exports to third countries provided equipment was made with less than 20% German components.

French firms, such as Nexter and Arquus, previously known as Renault Trucks Defense, say German restrictions have hindered export deals. Nexter was also worried about the feasibility of the tank of the future project (MGCS) that should be developed with German firm Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

Airbus Defence & Space and Dassault equally complained that the SCAF fighter jet project with Germany and Spain could be left in limbo.

France and Germany tentatively agreed to speed up the development of the warplane in the next few months, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two countries will sign in January 2020 a deal to develop the SCAF demonstrator programme, French minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly said on Twitter.

Besides defence deals, Paris and Berlin also said they agreed to give preferential treatment to European companies for the launch of space rockets.

(Writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Tangi Salaün; Editing by John Irish)