Vietnam: a thriving market for French aviation industry
The France, Toulouse-based, Airbus and the France, Paris-based Safran Group have signed separate deals with major Vietnamese airlines. French aviation industry relies heavily on the growing Vietnamese market and is a privileged partner of the country’s airlines.
On March 28, 2018, the French group Safran has signed a $6.5 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with VietJet for further cooperation between the two companies.
That agreement concerns fleet management and maintenance formations for VietJet employees as well as the acquisition of several engines.
Earlier, on March 26, 2018, the French flag carrier Air France has also signed a cooperative agreement with the national company Vietnam Airlines.
For the next 20 years, Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance will be in charge of maintaining 20 of Vietnam Airlines GEnx engines for a price of $500 million.
An upcoming Vietnamese company Bamboo Airways will be equipped with A321neos. An agreement has been signed between Bamboo‘s parent company, FLC group, and Airbus to acquire 24 aircraft.
The airline will begin its operations in 2019 with leased aircraft, before progressively replacing them with brand new A321neos, the largest aircraft of the A321 family.
“After carefully evaluating the competing products, FLC Group and Bamboo Airways have selected the A321neo as the most efficient option for our new operation,” said Trinh Van Quyet, chairman of FLC Group.
The best-seller single-aisle A321 from Airbus has convinced the company thanks to its low fuel consumption and extended capacity – up to 240 seats – compared to other middle of market planes.
Airbus is already well established in Vietnam, with the three biggest companies – Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Jetstar Pacific Airlines – all using planes from the A320 family.
Source – AeroTime
