The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines clocked in its 9 millionth passenger in 2009 on Dec. 24 at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.

Prized passenger Le Thanh Kinh, CEO and General Director of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Petroleum Service and Ship Building Company, departed from Ho Chi Minh City and arrived in Hanoi at 12:30hrs on Vietnam Airlines’ VN218.

One step ahead Kinh was Dinh The Anh, who works at the Hitachi Plan Technology Company in Hanoi.

Vietnam Airlines fulfilled this year’s target by transporting more than 6.16 million domestic passengers and over 3.14 million foreigners. Its total turnover is estimated at nearly 23.7 trillion VND with a pre-tax profit of 150 billion VND.

General Director Pham Ngoc Minh said that 2010 will be the year Vietnam Airlines strives to become a leading regional carrier during the 2015-2020 period.

In 2010, the carrier will focus on synchronous measures to improve the quality of its service and the operation of its entire system. It will receive 16 new aircrafts, raising its fleet to nearly 70.
Additionally, Vietnam Airlines will continue expanding cooperation with other firms, especially those in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Its 2010 plans also include officially joining Skyteam, one of the globe’s largest aviation alliance, said Minh.