The modern aircraft fleet of Vietnam Airlines. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) - Throughout over three decades since its establishment, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has consistently upheld safety as its foremost priority.
With collaboration and support from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the airline has established, reinforced, and enhanced a safety culture, considering it a top priority in its operational endeavors.
In addition to standards set for airlines, there is also the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO), an accreditation scheme validating that ground handling service providers comply with industry ground operations standards. The system was applied by over 290 entities across nearly 300 airports globally.
The Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited (VIAGS), a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, was granted the ISAGO certificate, as its management system leverages administration, synchronised control and efficiency. Alongside product and service quality, the safety aspect of VIAGS' operations meets the stringent demand of 4-5 star airlines worldwide.
Airport security personnel check passenger documents for flight procedures. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Recalling the journey towards achieving the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate in 2005, Au Duy Linh, Head of the Safety and Quality Management Division of Vietnam Airlines and Secretary of the Vietnam Airlines Group Safety Committee, said the carrier had to undergo a rigorous safety evaluation by the IATA Aviation Quality Services (AQS).
Specifically, it had to meet hundreds of requirements in eight operational domains of an airline, including organisational systems, safety-quality systems; flight operations; operational control and flight dispatch. The list also includes aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground and cargo operations, and aviation security.
The IOSA certificate is akin to a 'green card' on the path of Vietnam Airlines' international integration, Linh said proudly. With an IATA membership in 2006 and a reputation as the first Southeast Asian airline to join the global SkyTeam alliance in 2010, the airline has affirmed its international stature and the global safety and quality of the services it provides.
With IATA's collaboration and support, Vietnam Airlines has established, reinforced, and enhanced a safety culture. (Photo: VietnamPlus) At a ceremony marking the company’s 10th consecutive reception of the IOSA certificate in 2022, CEO of Vietnam Airlines Le Hong Ha emphasised that safety always ranks first for an airline.
He firmly stated building a safety culture cannot be achieved overnight. It must be a persistent process taking place every day and simultaneously combined with multiple measures to bring about changes in understanding, perception, and actions of every individual, thereby ensuring absolute safety for hundreds of passengers on each flight.
The IATA selected Vietnam as the location and Vietnam Airlines as the host for the 2023 World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) in September, Ha said. This event showcases the influence and position of the national airline and the safety management capabilities of Vietnam's regulatory bodies, promoting the image of the country and its people to hundreds of top aviation leaders worldwide.
According to the CEO, the conference is an opportunity for Vietnam Airlines to highlight and enhance awareness on the importance of building a safety culture within the organisation. It's a chance for industry leaders and aviation management agencies to propose solutions to safety-, operation-, and infrastructure-related issues to step up global aviation safety.
Under the theme “Leadership in Action: Driving Safer and More Efficient Operations,” the conference will bring together more than 800 delegates who are representatives from airlines and international organisations worldwide.
“Borders are open, airports are busy, and flights are full. As we rebuild airline networks and balance sheets, it is vital that all aviation stakeholders maintain the same strong commitment to safe operations that we exercised during the pandemic years. The WSOC is the forum to discuss and debate today’s challenges and opportunities to keep the industry on a trajectory of improving safety and more efficient operations,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh./.
