Prime Minister meets with leader of Air Lease Corporation hinh anh 1Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and ALC Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy at their meeting in Hanoi on December 15 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Executive Chairman of the US-based Air Lease Corporation (ALC) Steven Udvar-Hazy in Hanoi on December 15.

Noting the growing Vietnam - US relations in many areas, PM Chinh said the US is currently a leading partner of Vietnam.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the whole world, including the two countries, and aviation businesses, including Vietnam Airlines, are among those hit hardest.

He asked the ALC to assist Vietnam Airlines in this trying time, adding that the support will help the national flag carrier  weather difficulties, restructure better, and also cooperate more effectively with the ALC in the time ahead.

The country is planning to resume some international air routes, including those linking with the US, and Vietnam Airlines will take part in this process, the PM said.

Agreeing to assist Vietnam Airlines in certain contracts, Udvar-Hazy said during their 20-year partnership, the carrier has always carried out the signed agreements with his firm well, and the bilateral cooperation is now at its best.

He expressed his belief that with the assistance and after Vietnam reopens, with economic and tourism activities resumed, Vietnam Airlines will recover and develop.

Following the meeting, PM Chinh witnessed the exchange of the assistance agreement between Vietnam Airlines and the ALC. Under this deal, the American company will directly reduce prices by 420 million USD in existing contracts and cancel the previously signed aircraft leasing ones worth 600 million USD in total.

The ALC, headquartered in Los Angeles and one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies, is leasing 22 planes to Vietnam Airlines, accounting for more than 30 percent of the aircraft this carrier is renting./.
VNA