Vietnam Airlines (VN, Hanoi Noi Bai International) has formally dropped the A380-800 from its five-year operational plans local Vietnamese media have indicated. While the state-backed carrier had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) covering four A380s back in late 2009, it had put off a firm commitment pending further studies into the type's role in its future fleet and network expansion plans. As a result, it did not renew the MOU on its expiration in 2013.

According to Báo Đầu tư, the airline has now put the matter to bed stating that the A380 would present too great a financial burden given existing costs associated with its A350 and B787 fleet purchases. In addition, a change in market conditions since 2008 has warranted greater focus on the A350-900, B787-9, and B787-10 for its capacity needs.

It also mentioned a lack of adequate infrastructure capable of handling the twindeck quadjet; Long Thanh International Airport, slated to replace Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, will only be ready after 2020, it said.

Vietnam Airlines has revised downwards the total number of aircraft it intends to operate by 2020 from 150 to 122.