Sheremetyevo Welcomes First Vietnam Airlines Flight
China Aviation Daily | Jul. 02, 2019
On July 2, 2019, Sheremetyevo International Airport welcomed the inaugural flight of Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam's national airline, on the Hanoi -- Moscow -- Hanoi route. The event was attended by Mr. Ng Puc Manh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Russian Federation, Mr. Lk Thanh Dung, General Representative of Vietnam Airlines in Russia, and Mr. Denis Pashkovsky, Deputy CEO for Commercial Activities of SIA JSC.
As tradition calls for, the aircraft performing the inaugural flight was welcomed with a water arch at the airport. Opening the official part of the event, Lk Thanh Dung, General Representative of Vietnam Airlines in Russia and the CIS, said: «Vietnam Airlines is moving to a modern and comfortable airport with a well-developed infrastructure, allowing our passengers to be serviced in Terminal D, a facility rated 4 stars by Skytrax, before they get on board a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner». According to Mr. Dũng, the transfer of the airline's flights from Domodedovo to Sheremetyevo is an important strategic decision, primarily dictated by the airline's desire to provide passengers with utmost comfort in the air and on the ground alike.
Denis Pashkovsky, Deputy CEO for Commercial Activity of SIA JSC, replied to this, emphasizing the following: «Sheremetyevo International Airport is pleased to welcome Vietnam Airlines as our new partner. This cooperation improves air communication between Russia and the countries of South-East Asia. Sheremetyevo Airport will provide the highest level of service for arriving passengers, as well as affordable and comfortable connections for flights from Vietnam to Russian and European destinations serviced by Aeroflot and other SkyTeam member airlines».
An important step in the development of passenger traffic between Russia and Vietnam was the conclusion of a code-share agreement between Vietnam Airlines and Aeroflot. It will allow transfer passengers to take advantage of connecting flights from Hanoi to St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Ufa, and from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City, Phb Quoc and Nha Trang.
During the official part of the event, Mr. Ng Puc Manh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Russian Federation, noted: "The launch of flights from Sheremetyevo marks the beginning of cooperation between the national air carrier of Vietnam and Aeroflot. This initiative will help connect Vietnam with many cities around the world through Moscow and vice versa."
The first Vietnam Airlines passengers were welcomed at Sheremetyevo with freshly-baked bread and Russian folk dances. Marking the opening of the route from Sheremetyevo, the airline offered a 15% discount on flights from Russia to Vietnam from July 2 to 31, 2019 when purchasing tickets on the airline's official website. In turn, Sheremetyevo Duty Free Heinemann, the duty-free operator at the airport, granted Vietnam Airlines passengers a 20% discount, valid from July 2 to August 31, 2019 in the chain's stores.
Direct flights on the Hanoi -- Moscow (Sheremetyevo) -- Hanoi route occur three times a week: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (arrival at 6:45 a.m. Moscow time, departure at 2:40 p.m. Moscow time), served by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Contributed by Sheremetyevo International Airport