Vietnam Airlines has entered into a joint venture with ST Engineering, a Singapore-based aerospace engineering group, to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services to Vietnam Airlines and other partnered airlines.
According to media reports, the joint venture between Vietnam Airlines and ST Engineering would operate in Vietnam Airlines’ facilities in Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam Airlines chief Duong Tri Thanh told the media, “The establishment of a joint venture will bring more aircraft and added value to Vietnam. Likewise, it will help to improve the technical level of the domestic aircraft maintenance industry as well as the competitiveness of the national airline.”
Last year, ST Engineering also signed an agreement with Vietnam Airlines’ MRO unit. Called Vietnam Singapore Technologies Engineering Aerospace (JVCo), it began operations last year and provides its services to various aircraft types, including A320, A350, Boeing 787 and ATR72.
Back then, ST Engineering aerospace sector president Lim Serh Ghee told the media that the partnership with Vietnam Airlines, which has existing maintenance facilities in the country, enables ST Engineering to set-up capabilities within a very short timeframe and also allows them to start operating with a ready baseload.
In January, Vietnam Airlines expanded its codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines, after receiving the approval of the US Department of Transportation. The two carriers signed the first codeshare agreement in 2010.
According to the deal, Vietnam Airlines will display Delta Air Lines’ designator code (DL) on Vietnam Airlines’ codeshare flights. Similarly, Vietnam Airlines’ designator code (VN) will also be displayed on Delta Air Lines’ flights and also on its regional affiliates, including Compass Airlines, Endeavor Air, GoJet Airlines, Republic Airlines, and SkyWest Airlines.