Vietnam Airlines gets new CEO

By Anh Tu December 30, 2020 | 05:50 am PT

Le Hong Ha, who is set to be the new CEO of Vietnam Airlines starting January 1, 2021, speaks at an event on December 29, 2020. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines.

Vietnam Airlines deputy director Le Hong Ha will take over as the national carrier’s new CEO starting January 1, 2021.

Ha, 48, will replace Duong Tri Thanh who retires Thursday after almost five years at the helm.

Ha began working for Vietnam Airlines in 1994 as has occupied several key positions.

In 2015, he was appointed the CEO of Vietnam Airline’s subsidiary Jetstar Pacific (now Pacific Airlines), and is currently the chairman of the jet fuel supplier Skypec.

Vietnam Airlines has forecast a loss of VND14.44 trillion ($625 million) this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The number of passengers it served this year is estimated to fall 51 percent year-on-year to nearly 14.23 million, with the number of flights plunging 48 percent to 96,500.