Vietjet and UPS team-up on Asian flights

Vietjet and UPS have entered an agreement to leverage each other’s global and regional networks.

The agreement provides Vietjet with access to flights on UPS’s international freighter network from Asia, while the US express firm will be able to utilise Vietjet services within Vietnam, Thailand and the wider Asia region.

The partnership started on September 26 when the two partners operated a cargo flight from Hanoi to the US with one stop in Incheon (South Korea).

The service has been operated with one service per week since then. The cargo, including garment products, seafood, medical commodities and other general cargo, is collected from all Vietjet’s hubs in Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian destinations to Hanoi.

Both sides have also conducted cargo flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur using UPS planes as well as joining forces for cargo transportation on Vietjet’s flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

“The agreement with Vietjet comes at a significant time for trade in Vietnam,” said Russell Reed, managing director of UPS Vietnam and Thailand.

“As Vietnam’s economy embraces growth momentum, the country is poised to benefit from shifts in global manufacturing and trade flows, and UPS, together with Vietjet, hope to expand import and export opportunities for businesses of all sizes in Vietnam, enabling them to trade with greater ease and confidence on a global scale.”

Prior to the agreement, Vietjet and UPS Express have previously collaborated to handle cargo on Thai Vietjet’s return COB (cargo on board) flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok.

Vietjet Cargo chief executive Do Xuan Quang said: “The cooperation with UPS paves the way for Vietjet to make Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok regional logistics hubs for one-stop-shop cargo transportation services from Asia to western destinations as we further expand our domestic flight network in the countries and boost international services not just within Southeast Asia but also in Northeast Asia.”

Vietjet added that it is the first airline in Vietnam to be approved for cargo operations in the passenger cabin (CIPC) and has conducted international cargo flights between Vietnam and Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

New flights to Taiwan from Vietnam and Thailand are also planned while increasing flight frequency on current routes.