Turkish Airlines, the globally renowned aviation service provider, has signed a Letter of Intent with Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier of Vietnam, in Ankara today, adding yet another new partnership to its portfolio of collaborations. Signed for its successful air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo, Turkish Airlines is committing to only expand its extensive flight network, but also enter partnerships with airlines around the world.

The signing ceremony was held at the Presidential Complex today, witnessing the attendance of Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of Türkiye and Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam. At the signing, Turkish Airlines was represented by Bilal Ekşi, Chief Executive Officer at Turkish Airlines; and Turhan Özen, Chief Cargo Officer at Turkish Airlines, while Vietnam Airlines was represented by Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Vietnam Airlines. The agreement is set to establish the foundation of a high-potential collaboration between the two airlines, aimed to be further strengthened in the future.

A subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo is meticulously assessing collaboration opportunities in Asia, a continent of strategic importance and high potential. The cooperation, brought to life with Vietnam and its flag carrier Vietnam Airlines as part of the expansion activities of the successful air cargo brand, represents just one of these initiatives.

At the signing, Turkish Airlines was represented by Bilal Ekşi, Chief Executive Officer at Turkish Airlines; and Turhan Özen, Chief Cargo Officer at Turkish Airlines, while Vietnam Airlines was represented by Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Vietnam Airlines.

The airline collaboration, initiated by Türkiye, having shown a striking development momentum in the last 20 years, is anticipated to significantly contribute to the commercial activities of both countries. Vietnam, with its growth rate surpassing regional peers and global averages, stands out in Asia, a continent of development and rise. Through the signing, Turkish Cargo reaffirms its role in shaping the future of air cargo transportation, particularly in connecting vital regions and fostering international trade and commerce.

Bilal Ekşi, CEO at Turkish Airlines, commented at the signing ceremony: “Asia is one of our key markets at Turkish Airlines. Our efforts to increase our presence on this prominent continent continue unabated with our competent teams and R&D activities. In an era where global aviation is shifting from West to East, these efforts are even more meaningful. I am hoping our collaboration with Vietnam Airlines will be beneficial and fruitful for both countries and both flag carriers.”

Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Vietnam Airlines, stated: “The cooperation between Vietnam Airlines and Turkish Airlines was established on the basis of mutual benefit. Turkish Airlines will benefit from expanding the scale of its transportation network to previously limited areas such as Oceania, Northeast Asia by taking advantage of Vietnam's central geographical location as a transit point. Furthermore, by using freighters and connecting to Turkish Airlines' global network of 345 destinations around the world, Vietnam Airlines can also significantly expand its scale. We are confident this cooperation will facilitate Vietnam to become one of the leading logistics centers in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The partnership, initially focusing on air cargo operations of both flag carriers, aims to explore different commercial dimensions in the near future.

As a key part of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo has consistently demonstrated its prowess in global logistics, boasting one of the most extensive and efficient cargo networks. This new development not only showcases Turkish Cargo's adaptability and strategic foresight but also underlines its commitment to expanding its reach further and enhancing service quality.