On Earth Day, April 22, Vietnam Airlines officially launched the “Green Alliance for Sustainable Development,” marking a shift from standalone initiatives to a coordinated model for action based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Beyond aviation emissions reduction, the initiative opens a platform for cross-sector cooperation among state agencies, businesses, social organizations and international partners, aiming to align economic growth, environmental responsibility and social value.
From launch event to strategic shift
Held in Gia Lam, Hanoi, on April 22, 2026, the launch was framed not merely as a branding activity but as a statement of direction: sustainable development is no longer an auxiliary option but a core operational orientation of the national flag carrier. In its press release, Vietnam Airlines described the Green Alliance as a voluntary cooperation model designed to connect and coordinate ESG-aligned initiatives in line with international standards, under the message “Reaching further for a sustainable future.”
The event signaled a shift in approach. Activities previously seen as separate—environmental initiatives, community programs and governance improvements—are now integrated into a unified framework, with ESG as the reference, multi-stakeholder collaboration as the method, and long-term impact as the benchmark.
Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said the Green Alliance “is not only a cooperative initiative but a long-term commitment to action” in the airline’s green transition. In this framing, sustainability becomes the foundation of competitiveness and long-term development.
The breadth of participation underscored this positioning. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Health, the Traffic Police Department, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation, along with international organizations such as SkyTeam, Operation Smile and Facing The World, as well as corporate and social partners. The alliance is thus presented as a cross-sector action platform rather than an internal corporate campaign.
ESG framework embedded in operations
Vietnam Airlines outlined a structured sustainability framework built on three pillars—environment, social and governance—with a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Government of Vietnam.
Environmental efforts focus on carbon emissions reduction, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption and operational efficiency. The airline operates new-generation aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, reducing emissions by 20–25% compared with older models. In 2025, operational optimization saved 25,500 tons of Jet A1 fuel, equivalent to avoiding 80,580 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Vietnam Airlines has also taken early steps in SAF adoption, including compliance flights under French regulatory requirements in 2022, a test flight using a 38% SAF blend on the Singapore–Hanoi route in May 2024, implementation of RefuelEU Aviation requirements from January 2025 on Europe–Vietnam routes, and the simultaneous operation of six domestic flights using SAF from Da Nang in June 2025. The airline reported using 2,200 tons of neat SAF in 2025.
At the service level, sustainability measures include eliminating 5.5 million single-use plastic items (about 40 tons of plastic waste), reducing 18,000 kg of food waste, and replacing printed materials with the PressReader digital platform, contributing to lower aircraft weight and fuel consumption.
On the social and governance fronts, Vietnam Airlines reported ongoing community programs such as “Flights of Love,” providing support equivalent to 10 million air miles—about 5.5 billion dong ($220,000)—for pediatric surgeries in 2025. The “One ticket = One tree” initiative helped restore 50 hectares of forest in northwest Viet Nam with participation from 60,000 customers. More than 7.7 tons of surplus food were donated to VietHarvest.
Women account for 54% of frontline and operational staff and hold 33% of management positions at department level and above. The airline received first prize in the gender equality category at the 2024 WEPs Awards.
These results indicate that the Green Alliance builds on existing practices rather than starting from scratch, aiming to consolidate and scale them through a more structured and collaborative mechanism.
Broadening sustainability beyond environmental goals
A notable feature of the launch was the broader interpretation of sustainable development beyond environmental aspects. This was reflected in a cooperation agreement signed between Vietnam Airlines, the National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation and the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security.
The agreement aims to enhance coordination, shorten transport time and improve efficiency in organ transport for transplantation, contributing to life-saving efforts. In this context, sustainable development is linked to public service capacity, inter-agency coordination and social responsibility.
The initiative highlights the role a national flag carrier can play in public service and humanitarian networks. In time-sensitive cases such as organ transplants, transport and coordination capabilities become part of critical social infrastructure.
Vietnam Airlines was also selected by SkyTeam to host the Aviation Challenge 2026, recognizing its progress in sustainable development and underscoring its increasingly proactive role in the region, while expanding opportunities for cooperation within the global aviation ecosystem.
The event included the activation of a sustainable development cooperation network structured around three themes: “Building green foundations,” “Spreading human values,” and “Green conservation and innovation,” emphasizing a shift from commitments to coordinated action.
Partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Environment expands green value chains
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 2026–2030 between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Vietnam Airlines adds a policy and green economic dimension to the Green Alliance.
Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen coordination to promote green agriculture, environmental protection and climate change response, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development and enhancing national branding. Areas of cooperation include public communication on environmental protection and emissions reduction, research into sustainable aviation initiatives, promotion of a circular economy, waste management, reduction of in-flight plastics, and development of green logistics chains for high-quality agricultural, forestry and fishery exports.
Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen coordination to promote green agriculture, environmental protection and climate change response, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development and enhancing national branding. Areas of cooperation include public communication on environmental protection and emissions reduction, research into sustainable aviation initiatives, promotion of a circular economy, waste management, reduction of in-flight plastics, and development of green logistics chains for high-quality agricultural, forestry and fishery exports.
The partnership also aims to promote rural heritage, ecotourism and One Commune One Product (OCOP) products through Vietnam Airlines’ service system.
Implementation mechanisms are clearly defined, with the Agriculture and Environment Magazine serving as the focal point for the ministry and Vietnam Airlines’ Communications Department for the airline. The two sides will conduct annual reviews and develop plans for subsequent periods to ensure effective implementation.
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The Green Alliance marks the start of a joint action process, connecting resources to advance sustainable development and deliver tangible benefits for the environment and the community.
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A national carrier positioning itself as a connector
The central message of the April 22 event lies in how Vietnam Airlines defines its role. Beyond reducing its own environmental footprint, the airline positions itself as a connector—linking policy and practice, businesses and regulators, aviation operations and social responsibility, environmental initiatives and partner ecosystems, and national branding with sustainable development goals.
As sustainable development becomes a core requirement of national and global strategies, this approach underscores the importance of building collaborative ecosystems in which stakeholders share resources and implement common objectives.
The Green Alliance is therefore presented as both a milestone and a test of coordination capacity. The message is clear: a sustainable future requires broad networks, long-term vision and measurable action. In this framework, each flight not only connects destinations but also contributes to lower emissions, stronger social value, greater transparency and shared community benefits.
On the morning of April 21, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Natural Resources and Environment magazine and 12 other magazines organized a forum and signed a competition agreement titled "Building a Cultural Environment in press agencies and the Culture of journalists in Vietnam 2023."
