In a document released by the Government Office on July 17, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung allowed the corporation to draw up a plan to buy or lease 10 Boeing 787s, and at the same time consider the possibility of purchasing aircraft of similar size like the Airbus 350.

The purchase of new aircraft is a preparatory step for the airline's plan to open a direct route to the United States and a move to overcome the current shortage of planes.

In the immediate future, the PM requested the corporation to consider using its Boeing 777s and leasing more Boeing 777-200ERs for the US route between 2012 and 2020.

The PM also asked the Vietnam Airlines Corporation to work out a plan on purchasing five more ATR-72 aircraft for domestic flights while considering other options in case negotiations to buy ATR72s fail.

The PM urged the corporation to quickly implement a project to buy 10 A321s and four Boeing 787s under already-signed contracts to ensure the process of receiving aircraft as scheduled.

He required that in the last six months of this year, the corporation must focus on fulfilling its production and business plans and ensuring flight security and safety.

The corporation must continue its business reform and restructuring scheme which has been approved by the PM, he added.