PANO - All Nippon Airways (ANA), the Japan’s largest airline and Vietnam Airlines, the Vietnam's national flag carrier, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for strategic cooperation, announced Vietnam Airlines' Spokesman Le Hoang Dung on January 12th.

Accordingly, ANA Group will buy shares of Vietnam Airlines, worth VND 2,431 billion (US$ 108 million). The new deal will enable ANA Group and Vietnam Airlines to take full advantages of their potential of the air service market of Asia in general and the Southeast Asian's countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam in particular.

Photo for illustration: VNA

Addressing the event, Shinya Katanozaka, CEO of ANA HOLDINGS INC., said “Asia is a key market for ANA as we are expanding our global business strategy and Vietnam Airlines has become our ideal partner because we share similarities such as high standards for air services and customer policies as well as effective operations. We are looking forward to completing this strategic investment and launching our partnership, so we can serve our passengers better.”

Pham Viet Thanh, Chairman of Vietnam Airlines said, “We highly value the cooperation with ANA Group as our strategic partner, which will participate in the long-term development of the Vietnam Airlines Corporation. ANA is one of the leading airlines in the region and the world as well. The two sides' cooperation will help the Vietnamese side reach new management technologies, expand its business, and improve service quality and competitiveness in the international market. I strongly believe this new collaboration will promote the value, brand and image of Vietnam Airlines.”

ANA Group will also dispatch their representatives to join the management board of Vietnam Airlines and share operational and management knowledge with the Vietnamese airlines improve service quality.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates 66 flights on ten air routes and ANA operates fourteen ones on two routes every week between the two countries.

Chung Anh