VietJetAir (VJ, Hanoi Noi Bai International) and its Thai partner, Kannithi Aviation, have signed a cooperation agreement establishing Thai VietJetAir (VZ, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi). "We're taking steps to start up Thai VietJet Air by mid-year," Somphong Sooksanguan, president of Kannithi Aviation, told the Bangkok Times. In line with Thai foreign investment laws, Thai VietJet Air is 51% owned by Kan Air (Chiang Mai) parent, Kannithi Aviation, with the Vietnamese holding the remaining 49%. Headed by Florian Preuss, the start-up has begun the process of acquiring an Air Operators Certificate from Thailand's Civil Aviation Department and has also been able to secure traffic slots out of its proposed Bangkok Suvarnabhumi hub. According to Mr Somphong, previous plans to operate out of Bangkok Don Mueang were abandoned due to the already heavy presence of LCCs there. As with parent VietJet Air, Thai VietJet Air will launch with two A320-200s serving both domestic and regional destinations.