Lisbon, 3 December 2018 - Vietnam Airlines has been named the World's Leading Cultural Airline and World's Leading Airline - Premium Economy Class at this year’s prestigious World Travel Awards gala ceremony, held in Lisbon, Portugal on 1 December 2018.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Each year the World Travel Awards covers the globe with its Grand Tour – a series of regional gala ceremonies to recognise excellence within each continent, culminating in a Grand Final at the end of the year, which this year was held at the historic Pátio da Galé in Lisbon, Portugal. Today, the World Travel Awards™ brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

Vietnam Airlines has retained these dual awards for two consecutive years, echoing its commitment to bringing customers the highest quality service, in line with the airline’s impressive four-Star Skytrax ranking.

Mr. Le Hong Ha, Executive Vice President, Vietnam Airlines, says:  "It is an honor for Vietnam Airlines to be recognised by the World Travel Awards for the third consecutive year. Whilst one award reinforces our award-winning Premium Economy, the other recognizes the portrayal of the distinctive Vietnamese culture throughout the total passenger journey. Taking the top spot in two categories is a reflection of the airline’s ongoing efforts to provide quality consistency and motivate us to reach further.”

Mr. Graham E Cooke, Founder and President of the World Travel Awards, added, “Vietnam Airlines has demonstrated phenomenal dedication to improving its customer service and upgrading its fleet, and I am delighted that it has been acknowledged by both the travel trade and the public by being voted ‘World’s Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class’ and ‘World’s Leading Cultural Airline’.”

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Deputy Director of Vietnam Airlines branch in France receives awards from Mr. Graham E Cooke, Founder and President of the World Travel Awards

Earlier this year, Vietnam Airlines were certified with a four-star airline rating by prestigious international air transport rating organisation Skytrax for the third consecutive year. Its Premium Economy class, available on both the state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 on several international routes, offering generous legroom as well as spacious reclining seats for ultimate comfort.

Vietnam Airlines’ four-star services are characterised by a distinctive touch of Vietnam’s enchanting traditional culture. From Pho – a tasty traditional dish served on board - to the Ao dai worn by cabin crew and the signature Golden Lotus logo, passengers can easily recognise Vietnam’s most iconic features in the airline's products and services, both in-flight and on-the-ground. Earlier this year, Vietnam Airlines further enhance inflight dining experience by appointing Luke Nguyen as its Global Cuisine Ambassador. Luke will reimagine the in-flight menus, drawing inspiration and influences from the rich Vietnamese culture and cuisine around the world. This partnership comes from a shared ethos of respecting cultural values by designing, preparing and presenting authentic Vietnamese flavors in harmony with on-board dishes.

-ENDS-

About Vietnam Airlines:

Vietnam Airlines is the national flag carrier of Vietnam and the major carrier in the South East Asia, operating 94 routes to 21 domestic and 29 international destinations with an average of 400 flights per day, connecting the world’s major cities to mesmerizing travel destinations in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Vietnam Airlines became a member of SkyTeam - a global airline alliance whose 20 members provide access to an extensive global network of 16,609 daily flights to 1074 destinations in 177 countries – in 2010, reaffirming the carrier’s position on the global aviation map. In 2015, Vietnam Airlines became the first airline in the world to successfully operate both next-generation aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-900 XWB at the same time.

Vietnam Airlines has established itself as one of the region’s leading airlines thanks to its modern fleet and commitment to innovation and development, earning recognition from international and national communities through a series of prestigious awards. In 2017, Vietnam Airlines was named “Asia Pacific Airline of the Year” by CAPA; and “World’s Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class” and “World’s Leading Cultural Airline” in the World Travel Awards 2017. Skytrax - the world’s leading airline and airport rating organization - has ranked Vietnam Airlines as a 4-Star Airline for three consecutive years. This achievement is the result of the carrier’s tireless dedication to providing the highest quality across a range of products and services.

Vietnam Airlines has spearheaded Vietnam’s aviation market - one of the fastest-growing domestic markets in the world - throughout 20 years of development at a double-digit annual growth rate. Positioning itself as a modern carrier with an internationally recognisable brand characterised by Vietnamese traditional culture, Vietnam Airlines aims to achieve 5-star status and become a major airline in Asia.

Vietnam Airlines® - Reach further.