Vietnam Airlines completes SkyTeam sustainable flight challenge

Vietnam Airlines on Sunday completed its long-haul sustainable flight challenge, which is an initiative launched by SkyTeam Aviation Alliance, with a Boeing 787-9, on its flight VN-37 from Hanoi (HAN), Vietnam to Frankfurt (FRA), Germany. This service from HAN to FRA had a flight time of 11 hours and 49 minutes, with a departure from HAN at 23:23 and an early morning arrival of 06:11 at FRA. The flight was operated by the carrier's 274-seater Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which is configured with 28 seats in business class with a one-two-one layout, 35 seats in premium economy class with a two-three-two layout, and 211 seats in economy class in a three-three-three layout. From giving passengers bags recycled from old life jackets to serving sustainable meals, the carrier had innovative ideas to make the flight more eco-friendly. The airline also requested passengers to carry their personal items rather than using disposable items provided onboard.The carrier turned old life jackets that no longer meet the safety requirements into recycled bags with high passenger applications. This was done in partnership with Limloop Social Enterprise. With such an idea, the airline can reduce its carbon footprint because the greenhouse emissions from plastic disposal are lowered. Nutritionally balanced and sustainable meals were served onboard, made using locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables and sustainable plant-based protein alternatives. In the future, the airline plans to work with other organizations to secure leftovers and unused food to distribute to charitable organizations.<br/>