Vietnam Airlines make USD3.9bn in profits The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and its subsidiaries earned a total VND88.40trn (USD3.9bn) and a pre-tax profit of VND2.8trn (USD124.5m) in 2017.    Vietnam Airlines and its subsidiaries earned a pre-tax profit of VND2.8trn (USD124.5m) in 2017 The mother company earned VND66.20trn (USD2.98bn) and VND1.85trn in pre-tax profit, an increase of 8% compared to 2016. They contributed over VND1.90trn to the state budget, doubling the figure of the previous year. Vietnam Airlines along with Jetstar Pacific and Vasco conducted nearly 180,000 flights and served 26.5 million passengers last year, 6.7% up on 2016. They also carried 343,000 tonnes of cargo, increased by 19% compared to 2016. The domestic and international market share reached 60% and 32.3% respectively. More routes have been offered to passengers after Vietnam Airlines co-operated with major international airlines including Air France and Bangkok Airways. It earned over VND777trn (USD34.54bn) in the past 22 years with an average annual growth rate of 15.62%. In January 2017, more than 1.2 billion shares were traded on the UpCom. At the end of the year, each share reached VND42,000 (USD1.87), up 60% on their initial price. In the second quarter of 2018, Vietnam Airlines will list its shares on the HCM Stock Exchange, continue to issue more shares to its shareholders in order to increase its charter capital and reduce the state's ownership. The average rate of the On-Time Performance index of Vietnam Airlines' flights was over 90% even during busy holiday seasons, among the highest airlines across the world. It acquired four more Airbus A350-900 XWB, one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. When the US President Donald Trump visited Vietnam in last November, Vietnam Airlines and US aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney signed a USD1.50bn contract on the purchase of 44 PurePower Geared Turbofan engines and support services for Vietnam Airlines’ 20 Airbus A321NEO aircraft in accompany with comprehensive terms of warranty, maintenance and repair of the engines. It is predicted that the international aviation industry will have a high growth rate in 2018. Vietnam Airlines said it would prioritise resources to ensure aviation safety. It will complete the plan to improve its fleet for the 2021-2025 period, with a view to 2030, and study the feasibility of a US-Vietnam direct flight route. Nguoilaodong