Vietjet Aviation Academy welcomes New Zealand prime minister

PM Luxon visited the Vietjet Aviation Academy (VJAA) on February 28, one of the top aviation training centres in the region that meets European standards. Luxon was impressed by the academy’s state-of-the-art training and research infrastructure, which includes full-flight simulators for pilot training, and aircraft and cabin mock-ups.

VJAA is equipped with aviation engineering models, technical equipment, functional training rooms, an Olympic-standard swimming pool, a stadium, and specialised engineering training centres. These facilities are specifically designed to deliver comprehensive and high-quality aviation training on a global scale.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, chairwoman of Vietjet, welcomed the PM and reaffirmed Vietjet’s commitment to further strengthening economic, diplomatic, cultural, and technological cooperation between the two countries.

"Our bilateral trade target of $3 billion is well within reach, built upon the solid foundation of existing cooperation agreements. Vietjet, alongside businesses from both nations, is committed to expanding partnerships, driving sustainable development, and soaring to new heights together," said Thao.

PM Luxon was also in attendance for the signing of a cooperation agreement between VJAA and the International Aviation Academy of New Zealand. The agreement focuses on training high-quality pilots specifically for Vietnam’s aviation industry and the broader region.

Speaking at the event, PM Luxon said, "I can see why Vietjet has achieved such remarkable success in a relatively short time. The airline will play a vital role in helping us realise our ambitious goals across sectors like education and tourism. Strengthening people-to-people connections is key to driving greater trade, investment, and capital flow between our two countries – and Vietjet's services will be instrumental in making that possible."

A highlight of the visit saw PM Luxon and Thao co-piloting a simulated flight landing at a New Zealand airport using Vietjet’s state-of-the-art flight simulator. The moment was particularly significant given Luxon’s background as the former CEO of Air New Zealand.

During the visit, Vietjet also proposed establishing a Vietjet Hub in New Zealand – a multi-functional centre to connect New Zealand’s tourism and investment hubs with Vietjet’s extensive flight network. The hub would also serve as a platform for educational exchanges, cultural promotion, and business collaboration, further boosting tourism between the two countries.

In the presence of both the Vietnamese and New Zealand prime ministers, Vietjet announced its new Ho Chi Minh City-Auckland route on February 26, scheduled to commence in September 2025, initially offering four return flights per week.

These significant developments mark the beginning of a new era of collaboration and trade between the two countries, underpinned by the strong engagement of leading enterprises such as Vietjet, HDBank, Vikki Digital Bank, and Phu Long Real -Estate. This strategic partnership is set to unlock tremendous potential for both nations and further strengthen the ties between their peoples and economies.

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