Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are looking to deepen their relationship, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on commercial collaboration.
The MOU was disclosed on the sidelines of the Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum, which coincides with an official visit from Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Both airlines will “initially explore opportunities for codeshare arrangements” on flights between Singapore and Vietnam, with the potential to expand to other cities that SIA serves in its network.
“The two airlines will also explore other areas of commercial cooperation that could offer more value and options to their customers,” says a joint statement issued by both carriers.
“As international border restrictions eased in 2022, both airlines sought opportunities to expand their bilateral cooperation to provide quality service for their customers travelling between Vietnam and Singapore,” they add.
According to Cirium schedules data, both carriers jointly operate more than 60 weekly flights between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. In addition, SIA has daily flights to Da Nang, while low-cost unit Scoot operates to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Vietnam Airlines chief Le Long Ha says Singapore “remains one of the most” important markets, adding: “We hope to leverage our joint capabilities throughout many commercial fields of our business and therefore provide seamless experience to our valued customers. This MoU will also build a strong foundation for our future partnership and robust recovery after the pandemic.”
SIA chief Goh Choon Phong says the partnership will also be able to “bolster initiatives that facilitate tourism activities” and support economic growth.
Adds Goh: “Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have well-established networks, which can support one another to strengthen the connectivity between the two ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and to key markets around the world.”
