Australia has turn out to be a Boeing 787-only destination for Vietnam Airlines after alliance member Skyteam switched its services from Melbourne and Sydney to the next-generation Dreamliner.
Vietnam Airlines’ first 787 flight to Australia took place on Friday morning, when VN781 operated by 787-9 VN-A865 landed at Melbourne Tullamarine at around 09:30, after an eight-hour and 20-minute journey from Ho Chi Minh City. This route was previously served by Airbus A330-200 equipment.
The airline is the eighth carrier to serve Melbourne Tullamarine with the 787, alongside Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Royal Brunei Airlines, Scoot, United and Xiamen Airlines.
Melbourne is about to amass one other 787 operator, with LATAM announcing the launch of nonstop flights from Melbourne to Santiago from October 2017.
Meanwhile, the primary Vietnam Airlines 787 flight to Sydney arrived lower than an hour after the plane landed in Melbourne.
Flight VN773, operated by 787-9 VN-A870, arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport just after 10:10 a.m. and passengers were taken on a scenic flight over Sydney Harbor before landing.
Vietnam Airlines previously operated Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the Ho Chi Minh City-Sydney route. The switch to the Dreamliner brings the variety of carriers operating the aircraft in Sydney to nine – Vietnam Airlines joins Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Jetstar, LATAM Airlines, Scoot, United and Xiamen Airlines.
Qantas is placing its QF airline code on two of Vietnam Airlines’ Australian routes.
Source: http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/12/vietnam-airlines-switches-australian-routes-to-all-787-operative/
