Vietnam Airlines Company Limited, trading as Vietnam Airlines (Vietnamese: Hãng Hàng không Quốc gia Việt Nam), is the national flag carrier of Vietnam. It was established as a state enterprise in April 1989, and is headquartered in the Long Bien district of Hanoi, with hubs at Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport. From there, the airline flies to 46 destinations in 19 countries, excluding codeshares, using its fleet of 69 aircraft.

Vietnam Airlines was subsequently formed in 1996, after bringing together several service companies. The company is overseen by a seven-seat management board, members of which are appointed by the Vietnamese Prime Minister. Vietnam Airlines was the major stakeholder in Vietnam's second largest carrier, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, but its share has recently been transferred to the Ministry of Finance, then subsequently, to the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

With the core activity of the airline being passenger transportation, Vietnam Airlines also earns revenue from catering and the maintenance and overhauling of aircraft through a number of its subsidiaries. The maintenance and overhauling of aircraft is handled by Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO), while the former is performed by Noibai Catering Services Join-Stock Company and Vietnam Air Caterer, who cater airlines that use Vietnam Airlines’ hubs for the flag carrier. The airline also controls and operates its cargo division, Vietnam Airlines Cargo, using the airline’s luggage hold on its passenger fleet, as well as a number of dedicated airplanes.

Vietnam Airlines owns 100% of Vietnam Air Service Company (VASCO)—a regional airline in southern Vietnam, and 49% of Cambodia Angkor Air—the national flag carrier of Cambodia.

The airline is ranked as a 3-star airline according to the independent research consultancy firm Skytrax. Vietnam Airlines became a member of SkyTeam on 10 June 2010 making it the sole Southeast Asian carrier to join that airline alliance. During the months of September and October 2010, Vietnam Airlines was slated to manage all the transportation for the Miss World beauty pageant in its capacity as the official airline of the contest, although recent rumours of Vietnam's withdrawal as host have cast doubt on this. Recently, Miss World had decided to hold the contest in Sanya, People's Republic of China.

History

 Beginnings

Vietnam Airlines can trace its roots back to January 1956, when it was established by the North Vietnamese government after the nationalising of Gia Lam Airport; back then the airline’s name was Vietnam Civil Aviation. It was instituted after the government signed the Decree. 666/TTg. The airline was created as part of the air force, which was to be used for civilian purposes. Its fleet consisted of five aging Soviet-supplied planes – one Ilyushin Il-14, one Antonov An-2 and three Aero Ae-45s; this was because there was an embargo that prohibited the airline leasing and/or buying American technology or components. The airline's development and expansion was seriously hampered by the Vietnam War, which took place from 1954 to 1975.

Following the war, its first international destination was Beijing, followed by Vientiane in 1976. During that year, the airline was known as General Department of Civil Aviation in Vietnam, and began full operations, carrying around 21,000 passengers, of which one-third were on international flights and 3,000 tonnes of cargo. In 1978, another important destination of Vietnam Airlines was added, with flights offered to Bangkok.