November 12, 2017 - Vietnam Airlines and American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney signed a contract of the selection of aircraft engines and support services for 20 Airbus A321NEO aircraft in the presence of the President of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang and President of the United States Donald Trump. The signing ceremony was held within the framework of the President of the United States’ official state visit to Vietnam. The two parties also signed a memorandum of understanding on maintenance contracts covering these engines.

The deal between Vietnam Airlines and Pratt & Whitney is valued at more than $ 1.5 billion which include 44 PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines in accordance with comprehensive terms of warranty, maintenance and repair of engines.

Mr. Duong Tri Thanh – President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines said: "The signing ceremony today marked a new step in the development of Vietnam Airlines' A321 fleet. The engine we choose is highly efficient, fuel efficient, especially environmentally friendly and comes with comprehensive repair arrangements which help Vietnam Airlines to increase operational efficiency and save on operating expenses. I believe that the agreement between Vietnam Airlines and Pratt & Whitney will further reinforce the important economic, trade and investment partnership between Vietnam and the United States.”

Mr. Rick Deurloo, Senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney said: “We are proud to celebrate this momentous occasion with Vietnam Airlines. We’ve been powering Vietnam Airlines since the early 1990s when the airline received its first PW4000-powered 767. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship and long history with Vietnam Airlines.”

Since its first operation in 2016, the GTF engine has shown a strong performance with a reduction in 16% fuel consumption, 50% emission and 75% noise compared with the current engine. Vietnam Airlines’ A321 airplanes equipped by GTF engines are the new version of the A321 - the largest aircraft type in the Airbus A320 family. The A321NEO will provide passengers with new standards that will optimize cabin space, increase the size of the exits and new design of passenger cabins. Vietnam Airlines expects to receive 20 A321NEOs in 2018 and 2019.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of President of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang and President of the United States Donald Trump, within the framework of US President's official state visit to Vietnam.

Duong Tri Thanh - President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines (right) and the representative of Pratt & Whitney (left) completed the signing

Mr. Duong Tri Thanh - President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines (right) and the representative of Pratt&Whitney (left) handed the signed document

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About Vietnam Airlines:

Vietnam Airlines, a member of SkyTeam Alliance, is the national flag carrier of Vietnam, operating 90 routes to 20 domestic and 29 international destinations with an average of 400 flights per day. Our main goals in every operation are safety, efficiency, and quality. In 2016 and 2017, Vietnam Airlines has been certified as a 4-Star Airline by the prestigious Skytrax- the world’s leading airline and airport rating organisation. This year VN ranked 14th among the 20 best premium class airlines in the world also by Skytrax and awarded the “Asia Pacific Airline of the year” by CAPA. This achievement is the result of the organisation’s tireless devotion and commitment across a range of product and service areas.

About Pratt & Whitney

Established in 1925, Pratt & Whitney (a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp USA) is a global aerospace leader in the design, manufacture and services of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. Today, Pratt & Whitney's large commercial engines are being used by 25% of the world's aircraft. Pratt & Whitney's maintenance, repair and overhaul services are carried out on a global basis. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.