Cargolux has also increased its air cargo services to Hanoi to three weekly rotations beginning on 1 March. In addition to those flights, the airline serves Ho Chi Minh City once a week.

The Cargolux flight is regarded by Boeing as an important milestone, as it makes Hanoi the 100th airport worldwide to support revenue operations of the 747-8 since its entry-into-service just over 14 months ago by launch customer Cargolux.

‘This achievement is the result of Vietnam’s determination to join the growing list of countries with 747-8 approved airports’, said Richard Forson, Cargolux Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. ‘The added third flight, as well as the subsequent introduction of the advanced 747-8F with higher payload and improved economics, underlines the commercial importance of Vietnam for us.’

At the time of touching down on Noi Bai International Airport, Brazil remains the only country in Cargolux’s network that has not certified any of its airports for 747-8 operations.