Bamboo Airways and French Safran – the world's top narrow-body aircraft engine manufacturer and the world's second biggest manufacturer of aircraft equipment – have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a total amount of 2 billion euros (US$2.3 billion).

The signing was witnessed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his visit to France from November 3-5.

Under the MoU, Bamboo Airways would select engines and aircraft equipment for an order of 50 A321NEOs and 30 Boeing 787-9s from Safran.

In particular, Bamboo Airways signed a deal with CFM International – a joint venture of GE and Safran – to select LEAP-1A engines and aircraft equipment for Airbus A321NEO and Boeing 787-9 worth about 1.73 billion euros.

The airline also signed agreements to purchase aircraft equipment including avionics, interior, seats, gears, and wheel brakes for B787-9 and A321NEO with other subsidiaries of Safran Group in designing and manufacturing business and first class seats.

The narrow-body aircraft A321NEO, A320NEO and wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner play a key role in Bamboo Airways' plan to develop its international flight network, especially transcontinental mid- and long-term routes. Bamboo Airways is expected to operate direct flights to many European countries such as the UK, Czech Republic, Germany, France and to the US as soon as conditions permit.

Bamboo Airways Chairman Trinh Van Quyet said: “We believe that the co-operation relationship between Bamboo Airways and Safran will contribute to promoting strategic co-operation in the aerospace field in particular and comprehensive co-operation in all fields of economy, politics, commerce, education in general between the Vietnamese and French business communities."

Alexandre Ziegler, Senior Executive Vice President, International and Public Affairs at Safran, said that Safran wishes to develop a strong relationship with Bamboo Airways as well as make a positive contribution to the development of the airline in the future. The MoU will contribute to enhance the co-operation and mutual understanding between Safran and Bamboo Airways, towards the common goal of bringing the best experiences to customers.

Within the framework of Bamboo Airways' chain of operations in Europe, the airline announced a direct route between Viet Nam and the UK and launched a general agent in the UK market, and signed an MoU on strategic co-operation with Heathrow International Airport (UK). — VNS