(KPL/VNA) Vietnamese airline Vietjet and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos on July 11 announced an agreement to boost air transport connectivity between Vietnam and Laos.

The announcement ceremony took place in Vientiane in the witness of Vietnam’s President To Lam, Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and high-ranking dignitaries of both countries.

Under the agreement, Vietjet will collaborate with the Department of Civil Aviation of Laos to implement aviation-related projects and further expand air transport activities in Laos, which is expected to create up to 2,500 new jobs in the aviation sector.

The airline also plans to establish its own Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Laos with Vietjet Aviation Academy to oversee the training of the new workforce following international aviation standards.

In return, as the airline’s partner, the Department of Civil Aviation of Laos will provide administrative, legal, and facility support, and coordination with other agencies to facilitate the projects’ execution.

Vietjet's commitment to expanding air connectivity in Laos will bring affordable flight options and quality air services to Laotian and international tourists visiting the country.

These initiatives are set to drive socio-economic development, enhance trade, tourism connectivity, and cultural exchange between Laos and the regional neighbours.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos appreciated the contributions and capabilities of Vietjet, an international airline with fast-growing flight network. The agreement also aligns with the mutual goals and directions set by the governments of both countries in the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation in Transport between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos for the 2016-2025 period.

In 2023, Vietjet launched a regional state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance centre in the cooperation with Lao Airlines.

Earlier this year, the airline inaugurated its first route between Vietnam and Laos, linking Ho Chi Minh City with Vientiane. The air service has offered more convenient and diversified travel choices to flyers between the two countries and for further connection to Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and beyond.

Vietnam is currently one of Laos’ largest investors and trading partners, with 255 active investment projects in Laos totaling 5.5 billion USD. The projects focus on the industries of transport, tourism, and science and technology, which promote trade exchanges, sustainable development and shared prosperity of Laos, Vietnam and the region.

Vietjet is a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. As Vietnam’s largest private carrier, the airline has been awarded the highest ranking for safety with 7 stars by the world’s only safety and product rating website airlineratings.com and listed as one of the world's 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations by Airfinance Journal in many consecutive years.

The airline has also been named as Best Low-Cost Carrier by renowned organizations such as Skytrax, CAPA, Airline Ratings, and many others.

KPL