UAE-based Emirates airline partners...

Bilateral trade between the two countries has surpassed US$3.2 billion

Emirates has signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Vietnam Airlines and Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet, providing passengers with more flight options between Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The MoU sets the framework to expand the current cooperation in place between the airlines, enhancing connectivity on routes beyond the existing interline arrangements, and also to potentially add reciprocal loyalty benefits.

The agreements were formalised at the recent Vietnam-UAE Business Forum held at Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai, UAE.

Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim attended the signing ceremony along with government leaders and ministers from both countries.

The signing ceremony

Kazim, said: “Enhancing our cooperation with likeminded partners like Vietnam Airlines and VietJet is integral to our core commercial strategy to better connect customers across points beyond our network.

“Vietnam is a market that presents tremendous opportunities to boost tourism and trade as a key hub in Southeast Asia, and Emirates supports the UAE government’s ongoing efforts to elevate its existing economic ties with Vietnam.

“Our decades-long cooperation with Vietnam Airlines has enabled us to enhance connectivity between Vietnam and Dubai, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to explore further elevating this partnership while also establishing a new strategic cooperation with VietJet.”

The long-standing relationship between Emirates and Vietnam Airlines, which began with a bilateral interline cooperation in 1994, has helped connect customers to 22 domestic and 15 regional points in Vietnam Airline’s network, as well as 12 points in Emirates’ global network.

Nguyen Chien Thang, Vietnam Airlines’ Executive Vice President, added: “This MoU with Emirates is a significant milestone for Vietnam Airlines. The cooperation allows us to unleash the combined power of our networks as Vietnam Airlines seeks to leverage our international presence and provide our passengers with enhanced flexibility and convenience.”

The UAE and Vietnam have also signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), the first free-trade agreement Vietnam has established with a Middle East country, aiming to boost trade and investment.

According to the UAE Ministry of Economy, in the first half of 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries surpassed US$3.2 billion, a 43% increase on-year.

The airline will further add a second daily flight to Ho Chi Minh City, commencing on 15 January 2025.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com

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