(VOVworld) – Vietnam Airlines has become the second airline in the world to operate the brand new Airbus A350-900, following a ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Tuesday. With a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner due to be handed over this July, the airline will become the first Asia-Pacific airline to operate the world’s two newest airplanes.

The initial Airbus A350-900 Vietnam Airlines in flight

Addressing Tuesday’s ceremony, Commercial Vice President of Vietnam Airlines Trinh Ngoc Thanh said the arrival of the Airbus A350-900 marks the beginning of a major upgrade of Vietnam Airlines’ long haul fleet. Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO, said Vietnam Airlines is one of Airbus’s most important partners in East Asia and expressed his hope that Vietnam Airlines will promote the image of the Airbus A350-900, a modern airplane that can save up to 25% of the energy used by previous airplane generations.