Japan Airlines and VietJet Air have become strategic partners, an agreement that will allow the airlines to expand their networks and improve service.
Nikkei Asian Review reports that the carriers signed a formal agreement yesterday in an effort to improve customer service quality while enhancing the value of both airlines.
Japan Air (JAL) currently has over 220 aircrafts operating out of 344 airports worldwide, including daily direct flights from Narita Airport in Tokyo to Saigon and Hanoi, as well a connection from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Tan Son Nhat.
Tadashi Fujita, JAL's executive vice president, said at the signing ceremony: "We will help VietJet to develop as a global airline and generate more passengers and cargo traffic between the two countries and open up commercial opportunities on the two airlines' international network."
According to the news source, the cooperation will begin with code-sharing and the transfer of reward miles between the two airlines next year. Further initiatives like a frequent flyer partnership, aircraft maintenance and training services will come later.
VietJet president and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said at the event: "The cooperation promises to bring good results, added value and business opportunities, as both airlines share one important thing in common, we want to provide the best quality and friendly service to our customers."
VnExpress shares that this is a return to Vietnam's aviation market for JAL, which pulled out of a partnership with Vietnam Airlines (VNA) after the former's rival, All Nippon Airways, bought an 8.8% stake in VNA last year.
Domestic and international airlines are looking to cash in on Vietnam's booming market, which grew 29% in 2016.
[Photo via Jet Photos]
