Vietnam Airlines plans to list its shares on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange in Q1 of 2019, raising the carrier’s profile and positioning it to fund development of its fleet as it faces growing competition from low-cost carriers. CE Duong Tri Thanh said: “We are making our target the first quarter of next year, and I think this is feasible.” Thanh said that “the airline and the management want to do this”, but added that the final decision would be made by the Vietnamese govt. The airline would become one of the largest listed companies on the exchange at a time when foreign funds are looking for ways to invest in Vietnam’s fast-growing economy, including its rapidly expanding local and international tourism market. VNA’s shares already trade hands on Hanoi’s Unlisted Public Company Market. <br/>
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Airbus has sought authorisation to install ‘mini-suit’ seats on A330-900s to be delivered to a US operator, as part of a 281-seat configuration. While the operator is not identified in the filing to the US FAA, Delta Air Lines is the only US carrier with A330-900s on order. Airbus says the cabin interior proposed for the operator features a 3-class layout comprising 29 business-class, 28 premium-economy, and 224 economy seats. It states that the business-class cabin would entirely comprise mini-suites, characterised by a seat with surrounding furniture “intended to provide privacy” to the occupant. Airbus says that this would be achieved typically with a sliding door. Airbus points out that it has already installed mini-suites on its A321, A340, A350 and A380 models in Europe. <br/>
In another attempt to solve the ongoing controversy at Dallas Love Field Airport, the city of Dallas crafted a resolution that, if enacted, would force Alaska Airlines to accommodate additional flights Delta wants to fly out of Love Field. Additionally, Southwest would have to continue to allow Delta to fly its 5 daily flights out of Gate 15. Both of the forced accommodations would occur for a minimum of 3 years, the city said. The city added that if Delta doesn't want to have the eight additional flights it requested flown out of Alaska's gates, it would seek out other airlines to operate on Alaska's gates during times of underutilisation. "This proposal falls short of accommodation to ensure ongoing access and competition at Love Field on a long-term basis," a Delta spokesman said. <br/>