Cessna delivers first Vietnam-based Grand Caravan EX Amphibian aircraft

Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it has delivered the first two Grand Caravan EX Amphibian aircraft into Vietnam. Hai Au Aviation, the country’s sixth airline, will receive a third aircraft before the end of the year.

Hai Au Aviation, established by the Thien Minh Group and the Focus Travel Group, provides a range of services for the premium travel sector. The airline plans to offer scenic flights to various bays and islands, transport flights and customized flights with the Grand Caravan EX Amphibian aircraft, which have seating for two pilots and up to 12 passengers in a first-class interior configuration.

“The durability and versatility of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX make it the perfect partner for Hai Au Aviation to expand its high-end tourism operations. The comfort of the cabin, the large windows for sightseeing and the floats allowing it to take off and land anywhere are ideal for their missions,” said Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Turboprop Aircraft.

Hai Au Aviation launched its first flight with the new Caravans this month, offering passengers a 30-minute flight from Hanoi Airport to the northern city of Ha Long with a scenic route over the iconic Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That route typically takes four hours by bus.

“Seaplane service by Hai Au Aviation will bring new tourism and travel opportunities to international tourists coming to Vietnam,” said Luong Hoai Nam, general director of Hai Au Aviation Joint-stock Company. “Customers not only can visit our country’s most famous destinations more quickly and in better comfort, but can also experience Vietnam’s incredible natural scenery from above. The extraordinary design of the Grand Caravan EX seaplanes strengthens the connection between the crew – captains hailing from Australia, Canada and New Zealand alongside Vietnamese first officers – and the passengers like never before. This unique connection is exactly what will make each Hai Au Aviation flight a truly fantastic experience for passengers.”

Upon delivery of its third Grand Caravan EX Amphibian aircraft by the end of this year, Hai Au Aviation plans to connect Ho Chi Minh City with tourist destinations in the central and southern regions of Vietnam.

More than 2,200 Caravan aircraft have been manufactured by Cessna since the aircraft was introduced in 1985. There are five models currently available: the Caravan, the Grand Caravan EX, the Super Cargomaster EX, the Caravan Amphibian and the Grand Caravan EX Amphibian. Cessna began deliveries of the upgraded Grand Caravan EX in 2013, and it is now flying diverse missions around the world, including airline operations in Russia, travel companies in the Hawaiian and the Caribbean islands, construction and energy companies in the United States, aid organizations on wildlife rescue missions in Africa and aviation clubs in the Middle East. For more information about the various Caravan aircraft and their capabilities, go to Cessna.com/Caravan.

Hai Au Aviation Image