Vietjet
President and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and Boeing Commercial Airplanes
President & CEO Kevin McAllister jointly co-signed the airplane purchase
deal, witnessed by Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary and President
Nguyen Phu Trong and United States President Donald Trump. The event took place
during the important United States - North Korea Summit in Hanoi.
Speaking at the
ceremony Boeing Commercial Airplanes President & CEO Kevin McAllister
said, “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Vietjet and to support
their impressive growth with new, advanced airplanes such as the 737 MAX. We
are confident the MAX will help Vietjet grow more efficiently and provide great
travel experiences for their passengers. The
economic expansion in Hanoi and across Vietnam is impressive. Vietjet and the
country’s burgeoning aviation sector are clearly enablers, helping to stimulate
travel within Vietnam and connecting Vietnam with the rest of Asia. We are
proud to support this economic development, which in turn supports engineering
and manufacturing jobs in the United States.”
Earlier in 2016,
Vietjet also signed a 100 B737 MAX order, setting the mark for the largest
commercial jet purchase in Vietnam’s aviation sector, at the time and making
the airline currently the largest customer of the B737 MAX model in Asia.
Vietjet
President and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said: “The deal
for 100 new airplanes and other agreements for 200 B737 MAX airplanes today are
important moves for us to meet our international flight network expansion plan
with a higher capacity, thus offering our passengers more exciting experiences
when being able to fly to more new international destinations. The contract
signing ceremony, which is witnessed by the top leaders of Vietnam and the US
on the occasion of the US-North Korea Summit in Hanoi, will mark a milestone
for the two companies’ growth path.”
In addition to
airplane purchases, Boeing will partner with Vietjet to enhance technical and
engineering expertise, train pilots and technicians, and improve management
capabilities at the airline and in Vietnam.
On the same day, Vietjet and General Electric also signed a
long-term Engine Support Agreement to equip aircraft with LEAP-1B engines,
which is valued at US$5.3 billion - according to the manufacturer’s list prices.
The agreement includes spare engines and support packages to facilitate the
airline’s already-ordered new and modern aircraft. Thus, the total value of
signed deals between Vietjet and US companies on this occasion will reach US$18
billion.
As the US –
North Korea Summit takes place in Vietnam, Vietjet’s airplane purchase order
also contributes to increase trade turnover between the United States and
Vietnam. Vietnam is also the country that has achieved success in promoting
economic development. Vietjet, in particular, is seen as a pioneer for
international foreign affairs and economic diplomacy and known for promoting
the image of an innovative Vietnam to the world.