Delivery Includes Textbook Donations From Seattle
University
Boeing and Vietnam
Airlines are celebrating the delivery of the national carrier's
10th 777-200ER. With its lotus tail gleaming, the airplane is
loaded with a special cargo of textbooks collected by Seattle
University and will depart for Hanoi Noiboi International Airport
Friday. The textbooks are being donated to Vietnam National
University in support of the development of English-language
technical degree capabilities in Vietnam.
Vietnam Airlines' newest 777 is the sixth that the airline has
leased through International Lease Finance Corp. In addition,
Vietnam Airlines also owns four 777-200ERs.
To coincide with the airplane's delivery flight from Seattle to
Hanoi, Seattle University collected textbooks from students and
faculty for the past several weeks. Among the subjects of the
donated books are aviation and aerospace technology and information
technology journals and reference books.
"A fleet of 10 Boeing 777s is a key element in our business plan
and provides Vietnam Airlines with a significant international
presence," said Nguyen Xuan Hien, president and CEO, Vietnam
Airlines. "Additionally, we are very pleased to participate in this
program to enhance educational opportunities for Vietnamese
students."
"Deliveries of airplanes provide an excellent avenue for
cooperation with U.S.-based organizations to benefit the countries
where we do business," said Christopher Flint, director,
International Sales – Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
"Boeing, as a high-technology company, is particularly driven to
improve education and finds it especially appropriate to team with
an outstanding educational institution, such as Seattle University,
to provide a positive influence for students, schools and the
Vietnamese people."
The new donation by Seattle University follows two previous
donations of computers, office equipment and textbooks by Boeing
during 2005. Boeing and Seattle University hope that the donations
will provide additional opportunities for Vietnamese students and
provide lasting relationships between the universities.
"This is a great example of the long-standing ties between
Seattle University and the Boeing Company," said Joseph Phillips,
dean of the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle
University. "Boeing has long been a supporter of Seattle
University, and this project is a natural partnership for us.
Working together, we are able to have an impact in Vietnam that we
could not do by ourselves.
"This project is a great illustration of how Seattle University
‘empowers leaders for a just and humane world.' Our alumni at
Boeing and our faculty and students provided the leadership needed
for this important project. They knew that if they worked together
they could make a difference and have a significant impact on the
education of university students in Vietnam."
In the recent past, Boeing contributed funds for typhoon relief
efforts in Vietnam, as well as flood recovery work and various
human health initiatives.
The development of a long-term plan for cooperation with Vietnam
is a key objective for Boeing. The Boeing Company values
educational programs, especially those that support the bright
future of the aviation industry.