Vietjet and Thales Sign MRO and Digital Aviation Agreements

Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (Vietjet) and Thales Group have finalized a long-term component maintenance agreement and a digital transformation pact, securing aftermarket support for the carrier’s expanding Airbus fleet while integrating artificial intelligence and cybersecurity into its operations.

In a press release issued on September 15, 2026, Thales announced that the “Repair-By-The-Hour” (RBTH) contract and a concurrent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed on September 10, 2026. The signing took place at the Élysée Palace in Paris during a Vietnamese state delegation visit, overseen by French President Emmanuel Macron and Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam.

Maintenance and fleet support

The RBTH contract provides Vietjet with long-term component maintenance services covering its Airbus A320 family and Airbus A330 family aircraft. The agreement is designed to optimize fleet availability and lower operational lifecycle costs as the Airlines scales its flight schedule to meet regional and international demand.

Vietjet has recorded substantial operational growth throughout the year. According to reporting by TechNode Global, the airline generated consolidated revenue of VND51.54 trillion ($2 billion) in the first half of 2026, representing a 44 percent year-over-year increase. During that six-month period, Vietjet carried 13.4 million passengers across approximately 72,000 flights.

The Thales agreement is part of a broader procurement and maintenance strategy executed during the September 2026 state visit. TTR Weekly reported that Vietjet also signed a Letter of Intent with CFM International to assess engine support and maintenance capabilities, further solidifying its European aerospace supply chain.

Digital aviation and cybersecurity

Alongside the maintenance contract, the two companies signed an MoU focused on digital aviation. The agreement outlines cooperation in connectivity, cybersecurity, and AI applied directly to airline operations. The initiative aims to protect critical aviation systems while advancing the carrier’s digital transformation.

Thales brings established regional infrastructure to the partnership. The technology firm has maintained a corporate presence in Vietnam for 30 years and currently employs a workforce that includes 800 AI experts.

“Our partnership with Thales will not only enhance the reliability, safety and operational efficiency of Vietjet’s fleet, but also open up new areas of cooperation in digital technology, AI and cybersecurity,” said Nguyen Thanh Son, CEO of Vietjet. “Together with leading French partners, we look forward to connecting technological expertise with a dynamic aviation market, contributing to stronger trade, investment and ties between Vietnam and France.”

Pascale Sourisse, CEO of Thales International, stated that the company intends to support the airline’s next phase of growth through advanced technology and operational excellence.

Bilateral aerospace cooperation

The finalized contracts reinforce the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between France and Vietnam in October 2024. That diplomatic framework explicitly identified aviation as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation, paving the way for state-backed commercial agreements between Vietnamese operators and French aerospace Manufacturers.

AirPro News analysis

We view Vietjet’s concurrent agreements with European aerospace firms as a calculated move to stabilize its operational foundation amid rapid network expansion. By locking in long-term, predictable MRO costs through the Thales RBTH contract and the CFM International engine support assessment, the carrier is mitigating the Supply-Chain volatility that has constrained global fleet availability. The formal integration of cybersecurity and AI initiatives indicates a maturation of Vietjet’s operational infrastructure, aligning its technological capabilities with its high-growth financial trajectory.

Sources: Thales Group