Air India (AI, Delhi International) and VietJetAir (VJ, Hanoi Noi Bai International) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) over their proposed cooperation on flights between India and Vietnam.
Under the terms of the partnership, signed in Delhi this past weekend, VietJet and Air India will both commence direct flights between the two countries with the first route to be Ho Chi Minh City-Delhi International. Moreover, both airlines will also cooperate in the expansion of their sales distribution capabilities, the implementation of tourism and trade promotions between Vietnam and India; and the exchange of expertise through collaborative personnel training.
“We are very delighted at ... the agreement with Air India," VietJetAir Vice President Dinh Viet Phuong said "We hope that Air India’s aviation experience and capabilities will help Vietjet to better our access to India – a potential market with a young and dynamic population of more than 1.2 billion people. The cooperation is also expected to contribute positively to a higher development of partnership in economy, trade and tourism between Vietnam and India.”
The move comes amid warming ties between India and Vietnam. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Hanoi in September he and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, signed twelve MOUs covering the sectors of defence, space, IT, health, mutual recognition of standards, and cybersecurity.
