From a small fleet of propeller aircraft, Vietnam Airlines has grown to become a leading regional airline, connecting all parts of the country and the world.

Continuing the heroic tradition of the air transport force

The history of Vietnam Airlines Corporation is closely linked to the Vietnamese civil aviation industry. In January 1956, the Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration was established, marking the birth of the civil aviation industry in Vietnam. At the time of its establishment, the fleet of Vietnam civil aviation was very small, with only 5 propeller aircraft IL-14, AN-2, Ae-45... provided by the Soviet Union and China. The first domestic flight was launched in September 1956 with the routes Hanoi-Vinh and Hanoi-Dong Hoi.

On May 1, 1959, at Gia Lam airport, the 919th Air Transport Regiment, the predecessor of Vietnam Airlines, was born. During the war years, the Regiment successfully completed combat and combat service missions as well as missions serving the national economy, and was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State, leaving a heroic tradition for future generations.

The plane bearing the image of the Lac bird, symbolizing the nation's aspiration to fly high, has just been launched by Vietnam Airlines. Photo: MAI HUONG

Vietnam Airlines Corporation was established (for the first time) on August 22, 1989 by the decision of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. In the initial stage, the Corporation was still assigned to manage other aviation activities such as: Airports, flight management, aviation business units. On April 20, 1993, Vietnam Airlines was officially established on the core basis of Flight Crew 919, Flight Attendants and aircraft maintenance enterprises, ground services, and in-flight meals. On May 27, 1995, Vietnam Airlines Corporation was officially established. These two events are historical milestones for a special development stage of Vietnam Airlines Corporation, a stage of transformation, take-off, and growth.

In 2006, Vietnam Airlines became an official member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); in 2010, it officially became the 10th member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. In 2015, Vietnam Airlines was the first airline in Asia and the second in the world to receive and put into operation the new generation Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

In the history of the formation and development of the Vietnamese civil aviation industry, there have been many air force officers who have taken on management and operational positions. These include: Colonel Dang Tinh, Major General Hoang The Thien, Senior Lieutenant General Phung The Tai, Lieutenant General Hoang Ngoc Dieu, Major General Tran Manh, Major General Nguyen Hong Nhi, Major General Pham Dang Ty... The previous leaders have made great contributions in pioneering steps, determining strategic directions, and building solid foundations for the strong development of the Vietnamese civil aviation industry in the following decades.

With continuous growth and development, Vietnam Airlines affirms its position as the leading aviation enterprise in Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with major airlines in the region and the world, excellently completing all tasks assigned by the Party and State, making important contributions to the development of the country.

Aiming for digital airline, 5 star service

2025 is a special milestone for Vietnam Airlines - marking 30 years of establishment and development of Vietnam Airlines Corporation with the core being Vietnam Airlines and an ecosystem of more than 20 member units. Over 3 decades of "Taking flight with the country", Vietnam Airlines has transported hundreds of millions of passengers, traveled more than 3 billion kilometers, and directly connected Vietnam with more than 30 international destinations.

Each flight is not only a journey but also a bridge connecting the Vietnamese soul, culture and aspirations with the world. In the new era, where traditional values, technology and emotions intersect to create a difference, Vietnam Airlines continues to affirm its mission as the national airline, a source of national pride, a symbol of Vietnamese identity in the world sky; and at the same time, a reliable companion on the journey of "taking off with the nation" towards a prosperous future.

Uncle Ho took a photo with the flight crew of Vietnam Civil Aviation after finishing his visit and working trip in China. Photo provided by Vietnam Airlines Corporation

Vietnam Airlines aims to become a digital airline, aiming for a 5-star service experience, meeting the strategic goals of the SkyTeam global airline alliance and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The corporation is actively taking steps to realize this goal by cooperating with the world's leading technology corporations such as Amadeus IT Group, joining hands with the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to start providing wifi service on some aircraft from July and aiming to deploy it on the entire wide-body fleet from 2026.

In particular, Vietnam Airlines has just been honored to receive the SkaiBlu certificate, recognizing it as an Advanced E-commerce Carrier. To achieve this certification, Vietnam Airlines has passed strict evaluation criteria based on the Digital Airline Score (DAS) - SkaiBlu's exclusive method to measure the comprehensive digital performance of an airline.

As the leading unit in air transport in Vietnam and the region, Vietnam Airlines is constantly expanding its fleet, flight network and improving service quality. Passengers highly appreciate Vietnam Airlines flights for its excellent service quality, high punctuality index, professional and dedicated flight attendants and unique Vietnamese cultural identity. To maintain and promote these advantages, Vietnam Airlines increases the application of new technology in all areas of production and business, pioneers and strongly participates in the digitalization of Vietnam's aviation industry, expands international cooperation and receives new technology transfer to fulfill the mission of the national airline in the era of national development.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/vietnam-airlines-va-su-phat-trien-lon-manh-tu-nen-tang-quan-doi-5045029.html