Vietnam Airlines received the first of its eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner airplanes via lease from Air Lease Corporation.

The Vietnamese flag carrier plans to put the 787-10 – the most fuel-efficient twin-aisle airplane in the industry – on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh route as well as some of its busiest international routes.

"Welcoming the largest member of the 787 family to our growing fleet ensures we continue to boast one of the youngest and most modern fleets in Asia and also adds a competitive edge to Vietnam Airlines' operations. We appreciate the unbeatable efficiency performance with reduced fuel burn and outstanding passenger comfort and amenities," said Pham Ngoc Minh, chairman of the board of directors of Vietnam Airlines.

"On our journey to become a 5-star airline, we are confident that the Boeing 787-10 fleet will further elevate the customer experience on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh route as well as many international routes," he added.

The new 787-10 will complement Vietnam Airlines' existing fleet of 787-9 jets. Both feature the Dreamliner's ultra-efficient technology and passenger-pleasing comforts. The 787-10 is longer than the 787-9, providing the space to carry 40 more passengers and more cargo and helping it offer the lowest operating costs per seat of any twin-aisle jet in service today.

Vietnam Airlines is outfitting its 787-10 models with 367 seats. In addition to its size and fuel efficiency, the 787-10 can cover long distances. With a published range of 6,430 nautical miles (11,910 km), the Dreamliner planes can fly more than 95 percent of the world's twin-aisle routes.

"Vietnam Airlines has achieved impressive growth in recent years and helped power the rapid rise of commercial aviation in Southeast Asia. We see even greater potential ahead and the 787-10 brings the perfect combination of size and efficiency for Vietnam Airlines to serve high-demand routes, while the longer-range 787-9 delivers the flexibility to connect the world's major cities with popular destinations in Vietnam and surrounding countries," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing of The Boeing Company.

Vietnam Airlines operates 95 routes to 22 domestic and 29 international destinations with an average of 400 flights per day. From its current 4-star airline Skytrax rating, the Vietnamese airline wants to become a 5-star airline by 2020.