HÀ NỘI — National carrier Vietnam Airlines organised a ceremony to welcome the 200 millionth passenger at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, HCM City, on Tuesday.

This marks a milestone in Vietnam Airlines’ development history of more than two decades.

The 200 millionth passenger was Vietnamese Nguyễn Trường Chinh, who took Flight No VN223 from Hà Nội to HCM City. The flight landed at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport at 10.10am on Tuesday morning.

Two other Vietnamese - Ngô Huy Hoàng and Phan Thị Thu Hằng - were right before and after Chinh.

Dương Trí Thành, general director of Vietnam Airlines, said: “Recording 200 million passengers in more than two decades since the foundation is a milestone for Vietnam Airlines."

“Today’s achievement is thanks to the trust of millions of domestic and international passengers. The ceremony to welcome the 200 millionth passenger is our tribute to every passenger who puts their trust in Vietnamese Airlines on every flight.”

Thành said the national carrier would continue to improve its services.

During the 1995-2017 period, Vietnam Airlines operated more than 1.6 million flights on both international and domestic routes and posted an average passenger growth rate of 11 per cent per year.

The national carrier earned a total of more than VNĐ777 trillion (US$34 billion) revenue in the past 22 years, with average growth of 15.62 per cent per year.

It earned pre-tax profit of nearly VNĐ18 trillion in the 22-year period and contributed VNĐ41 trillion to the State budget.

At the event, Vietnam Airlines also officially launched “Flights of Love” – an activity for the good of the community to support projects aimed at better living. Owners of “Flights of Love” cards would be provided free tickets on all flights to implement their projects.

The first three projects of “Flights of Love” were Flood Housing Relief, Heart Foundation and Operation Smile.

Thành said social responsibility was important in the development strategy of Vietnam Airlines, and hoped that “Flights of Love” would contribute to building a sustainable development community. — VNS