VietJetAir, Lufthansa Technik strike cooperation deal

Senior executives of Lufthansa Technik and VietJetAir toast for their cooperation - Photo: Courtesy of VietJetAir

Under the deal inked in HCMC on Monday, Lufthansa Technik will assist VietJetAir in aircraft maintenance and advice to important technical projects of the second largest carrier in Vietnam after Vietnam Airlines. The German partner will offer training and consulting service for VietJetAir to develop a team of engineers of international standards.

August Henningsen, chairman of the executive board of Lufthansa Technik AG, said his company would provide global-standard technical management for VietJetAir to enhance quality and safety of its flights.

VietJetAir’s managing director Luu Duc Khanh told the signing ceremony that cooperation with Lufthansa Technik would enable the carrier to operate flights and maintain aircraft efficiently and safely.

VietJetAir currently uses eight Airbus A320 aircraft to service 11 domestic destinations and two international routes linking HCMC and Hanoi with Bangkok. This no-frills carrier now performs nearly 500 weekly flights.

VietJetAir said it has transported almost three million passengers since its take-off in December 2011. In addition to Bangkok, the airline targets more destinations in Asia.

* Air France announced on Monday that from October 27, it will operate four direct flights a week departing from HCMC to Paris on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and join six code-share services a week between Hanoi and the French City. These direct Hanoi-Paris flights will be conducted by Vietnam Airlines on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Air France has launched a promotion for passengers to depart from Hanoi and HCMC to Paris and other destinations in Europe. Travelers of the Economy class can book ‘Frozen Fares’ until September 10 this year, starting from VND17.8 million (some US$836) to Paris and to Prague, and from VND18.51 million (around US$873) to Munich.

The promotional fares are applicable to the flights departing from September 1 this year to March 3, 2014. To book these fares, passengers can log on www.airfrance.com.vn and choose the Best Offers section or contact Air France ticketing offices in Hanoi and HCMC, or Air France’s appointed travel agents.