Press Release

• Vietnam Airlines chooses Gatwick Airport as exclusive partner to launch first direct flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
• UK - Vietnam connection will help boost economic ties and encourage greater two-way trade
• Gatwick is fast-becoming the airport of choice for airlines

Gatwick Airport today announced that Vietnam Airlines - the country’s flagship carrier - has chosen Gatwick to launch the first direct flights from London to two of Vietnam’s major cities - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines’ operations will begin this Winter.

Vietnam is fast-becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific region with just over 5 million tourists visiting the country in 2010. Vietnam Airlines’ new direct routes from Gatwick enable UK holiday makers to more easily enjoy the cities, coastlines and culture of Vietnam, and join the growing number of tourists visiting neighbouring countries, including Cambodia and Laos.

Vietnam is not only an emerging international tourist destination but also an emerging world power with the inflow of foreign direct investment into the country rising to approximately $11 billion in 2010 – a 10% rise on the previous year. Today’s announcement brings a real boost for British businesses looking to invest in Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines’ decision to operate its services from Gatwick demonstrates Gatwick’s continued commitment to providing a strong proposition for both airlines and customers, and highlights Gatwick’s progress in becoming London’s airport of choice.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive said: “These new long-haul routes are exciting news for Gatwick and for the 90,000 UK holidaymakers who travel to Vietnam each year who, this Winter for the first time, will be able to fly direct to Vietnam. 

“With Gatwick offering the first direct route to Vietnam’s two major cities, this provides a real opportunity for UK business to build and develop trading links in the South East Asian markets.

“We’re working hard to deliver a great service and a wider choice of destinations to passengers, as we compete to grow and become London’s airport of choice. Today’s announcement demonstrates our headway in fulfilling these ambitions.

“We are committed to developing a long-term relationship with Vietnam Airlines, helping it realise its own goals for growth.”

Gatwick offers excellent links to Central London and the South East and is completing a £1 billion investment programme to provide improved services and facilities for airlines and passengers – two key benefits for Vietnam Airlines and other airlines to choose Gatwick.

Despite having the busiest single runway in the world, Gatwick still has capacity to grow. The airport can grow to 40 million passengers per year by the end of the decade, up from 32 million annual passengers who used Gatwick in 2010.

This gives Vietnam Airlines the flexibility to increase from four flights a week to up to double daily services over time – a level of frequency  important for both business and leisure travellers.

Pham Ngoc Minh, Vietnam Airlines’ Chief Executive said: “Launching the first direct route between Vietnam and the United Kingdom is a breakthrough in our European route development strategy. This will create favourable conditions for development and cooperation between the two countries, as well as between Vietnam and the European Community as a whole in terms of  trade, investment, education and cultural exchange.

"Gatwick airport has excellent links into central London, which will make it easy and convenient for passengers travelling between the two countries.  This gives us huge confidence in the future success of our routes."

Notes to editors

Vietnam Airlines operating services out of Gatwick

• Vietnam Airlines will commence operations in Winter early December out of the North Terminal
• It will operate three class products, including Business class, Upper Economy class, and Economy seating
• It will operate Boeing 777-200ER with capacity to carry 307-309 passengers
• It will operate a full service, including drinks/catering and entertainment

About Vietnam Airlines

• Vietnam Airlines is the national flag carrier of Vietnam with a network to 20 cities throughout the country and 26 international destinations in the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia.
• In June 2010, Vietnam Airlines officially joined SkyTeam, the world’s second largest global airline alliance, affirming the carrier’s new position on the global aviation map and the strategic partner of the alliance in Southeast Asia region as well as its international standard services
• 90,000 UK passengers currently travel to Vietnam each year, with most passengers taking indirect routes through other South East Asian cities/countries, including Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur

About Vietnam

• Over the past 15 years tourist arrivals have grown an average of 20% per year and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific region
• Endowed with 3,200km of coastline, any localities in central Vietnam have conditions on a par with famous beach resorts such as Phuket in Thailand and Bali in Indonesia
o Mui Ne in Phan Thiet, just 200km from Ho Chi Minh City, has been called ‘Vietnam’s Cool Coastal Getaway.’

• Vietnam is known for its beautiful landscapes, with many natural and cultural heritage sites recognised by UNESCO, including Hue with its ancient citadel and surrounding palaces and pagodas, Ha Long Ba, Phong Nha Ke Bang National park, the My Son Holy Land and the old trading port of Hoi An
• Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and Ho Chi Minh City is a major business and tourism centre, attracting a large number of visitors with various attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Cu Chi tunnels, and museums, theatres and cultural houses
• In area, Vietnam is slightly larger than the UK and Ireland. It stretches 1,600km north to south, but is only 40km wide at its narrowest point in the centre.
• Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest and the South China Sea to the east.

(Source: Vietnam a country book, where success begins.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Trade & Investment

• In September 2010, the UK and Vietnam developed Strategic Partnership with bilateral relations elevated to the highest level
• UK - Vietnam trade has registered consistent double-digit growth over the past decade and currently stands at well over £1 billion.
• In 2009, UK imports from Vietnam were valued at £1.1 billion, while the UK’s exports to Vietnam were worth approximately £210 million.
• Major UK exports are in medicinal and pharmaceutical products, leather products, niche engineering components, telecommunications and sound recording equipment plus professional, scientific and control instruments.
• Major imports from Vietnam include footwear, seafood clothing, accessories and furniture.
• Up to February 2010, the value of UK investments in Vietnam was approx $ 2.51 billion making the UK the 13th/14th largest overall foreign investor as well as the 3rd largest European investor in Vietnam after the Netherlands and France
• There are over 100 UK companies with registered offices in Vietnam, including Prudential (the largest foreign employer of Vietnamese workers), HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, BP, Shell Tate & Lyle Rolls Royce and Harvey Nash.

(Source: British Embassy website, Hanoi)

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