Sabre on Wednesday announced an expanded strategic
relationship with Vietnam Airlines. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnam
President Nguyen Phu Trong were both present at the signing ceremony, held at
the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.
President Trump and Vietnamese leaders presided over trade deals Wednesday morning, including the one between Sabre and Vietnam Airlines and Boeing aircraft agreements with VietJet and Bamboo Airways.
The memorandum of understanding between Vietnam Airlines and
Sabre "describes Vietnam Airlines' intention to significantly expand their
existing strategic relationship with Sabre, with a potential value of over $300 million."
It includes technology from Sabre's AirVision and AirCenter,
complementing SabreSonic, the passenger service system Vietnam Airlines uses.
The efforts, Sabre said, will help the profitability and digital abilities of
the airline.
One of Vietnam Airlines' subsidiaries will also start using SabreSonic,
as outlined in the memorandum of understanding.
Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration has
determined that Vietnam's civil aviation authority complies with international
aviation safety standards, opening the door for Vietnamese carriers to fly to
the U.S.
President Trump is also in Vietnam for a summit with North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un.