National carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to replace its fleet of ATR aircraft with new-generation regional jet aircraft containing about 100 seats in order to improve the efficiency of operation and service quality on short routes.

Jet aircraft E190-E2 at the Noi Bai International Airport on 18 October. — Photo Vietnam Airlines

This plan is part of the carrier’s policy besides upgrading the fleet of Airbus A321 aircrafts and enlarging the fleet of Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 wide-bodied aircraft, said Vietnam Airlines.

In comparison with the Airbus A321, the jet aircraft will have fewer seats but be really suitable with domestic routes and small airports such as Dien Bien, Con Dao and Rach Gia. With flying distance from over 2,000km to nearly 6,000km, this type of jet aircraft is expected to possess high mobility in operation.

Vietnam Airlines said it was researching the operation efficiency of small jet aircraft, including E190-E2 and E175-E2 of Embraer, Bombadier’s CRJ900/1000, Airbus and Bombardier joint venture’s A220, Mitsubishi’s MRJ70/90, and Sukhoi’s SSJ100.

According to Vietnam Airlines’ master development plan for the 2021-25 aircraft fleet, with a vision to 2030, the fleet of small jet aircrafts is expected to have about 20 units. The firm will likely wet lease small jets in six months to test, and evaluate the actual performance before deciding to hire or buy jet aircrafts and replace them with ATR in the long term.

On October 18, Vietnam Airlines attended a performance run of E190-E2 aircraft of the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer at Nội Bài International Airport.

The flying performance took place around Ha Noi, departing at 11:30 and landing Noi Bai Airport at 12:15.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)