{"slug": "vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris", "title": "Vietjet and Thales sign major MRO, AI and cybersecurity agreements in Paris", "summary": "Vietjet and Thales signed a strategic Repair-By-The-Hour component maintenance contract covering Vietjet's Airbus A320, A321, A321neo, A321XLR, A330, and A330neo fleets, plus a Memorandum of Understanding on digital aviation, avionics, cybersecurity, and AI-enhanced airline operations, at the Élysee Palace in Paris on September 13, 2026, witnessed by Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron. Vietjet CEO Nguyen Thanh Son said the Thales partnership will enhance fleet reliability, safety, and operational efficiency and open cooperation in digital technology, AI, and cybersecurity, while Thales International CEO Pascale Sourisse noted Thales has maintained a presence in Vietnam for 30 years. The agreements fall under the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.", "body_md": "Vietjet and French technology group Thales have signed a series of major cooperation agreements covering aircraft maintenance, digital aviation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity during Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam’s official state visit to France.\n\nThe signing took place on September 13, 2026, at the Élysee Palace in Paris, in the presence of both To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside senior officials and business representatives from both countries.\n\n#### **A Repair-By-The-Hour contract anchors the deal**\n\nThe centerpiece of the agreements is a strategic Repair-By-The-Hour (RBTH) contract under which Thales will provide comprehensive component maintenance services for Vietjet’s Airbus fleet.\n\nThe contract covers the A320, A321, A321neo, A321XLR, A330, and A330neo aircraft types, and is designed to enhance technical reliability and fleet availability while optimizing costs and operational efficiency.\n\n#### **Digital aviation and AI on the agenda**\n\nAlongside the maintenance agreement, Vietjet and Thales also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering digital aviation, avionics, cybersecurity, and AI-enhanced airline operations. The MoU will explore secure cloud solutions, predictive analytics, and decision-support technologies to strengthen airline operations over time.\n\nNguyen Thanh Son, CEO of Vietjet, said the partnership with Thales will not only enhance the reliability, safety, and operational efficiency of Vietjet’s fleet, but also open new areas of cooperation in digital technology, AI, and cybersecurity.\n\nHe said the airline looks forward to connecting French technological expertise with a dynamic aviation market, and contributing to stronger trade, investment, and people-to-people ties between Vietnam and France.\n\nPascale Sourisse, CEO of Thales International, said the company is honored by Vietjet’s continued trust, noting Thales has maintained a presence in Vietnam for 30 years.\n\nShe said Thales looks forward to supporting the airline’s next phase of growth through innovation, advanced technology, and operational excellence.\n\n#### **A partnership with broader significance**\n\nThe agreements mark a new chapter in the Vietjet-Thales partnership and carry wider significance for technology and industrial cooperation between Vietnam and France under the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.\n\nVietjet, which operates a modern fleet and a growing international network, said the agreements are part of its continued investment in technology, infrastructure, and aviation talent as it expands its reach across the Asia Pacific region and progressively into Europe.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris", "canonical_source": "https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris", "published_at": "2026-09-14 12:49:42+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-14 14:19:29.601516+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-products"], "entities": ["Vietjet", "Thales", "To Lam", "Emmanuel Macron", "Nguyen Thanh Son", "Pascale Sourisse", "Thales International", "Airbus"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/vietjet-and-thales-sign-major-mro-ai-and-cybersecurity-agreements-in-paris.jsonld"}}