Vietnam’s aviation sector posted single-digit growth in terms of passenger number in the challenging year 2012 when macro-economic woes forced individual and corporate passengers to tighten their purse strings. The latest report of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) showed the country’s airports handled 25.3 million passengers on domestic and international flights, up 6.5% on... 

Executives of VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Co. (VietJet Air) said this low-cost carrier will expand its flight network rapidly within Vietnam and then towards destinations in other Asian markets, and has prepared sufficient funding to achieve this goal after four years of obtaining a license. Nguyen Duc Tam and Luu Duc Khanh of the private airline confirmed the ambitious expansion last Friday, when... 

Jetstar Pacific Airlines has called off its daily flights between Hanoi and Nha Trang City after more than three months of flying to the city in Khanh Hoa Province in summer. The local low-cost carrier confirmed suspension of the flights between Noi Bai Airport and Cam Ranh Airport that it began in late May this year, attributing to low seating occupancy after the National Day holiday from September... 

Vietnam will need about 1,500 to 2,000 pilots by 2020, according to the aviation industry’s development strategy by 2020, prompting an urgent need for training of this human resource. In the context of economic difficulties of the economy and the pressure of the aviation sector’s growth, reducing expenses through training and recruiting Vietnamese pilots has been a strategic choice of domestic... 

Airlines are feeling the impact of increasing competition on certain air links between Vietnam and Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries in summertime, though demand for air travel on these routes has jumped. Jetstar Asia, one of the region’s leading low-fared carriers, will expand its HCMC-Singapore frequency to three times daily later this month when adding a daily service, fueling fiercer... 

Vietnam Financial Review (VFR) interviews Air Mekong’s Commercial Operations VP to get his take on Vietnam’s aviation industry. Vietnam’s airline industry has boomed in recent years, and will continue to do so over the medium term according to industry forecasts. Although the International Air Transport Association (IATA) suggests that the international air travel market may be on the decline... 

June saw the expiration of the aviation license for Vietnam’s first private airline, Vietjet Air. According to the report by the Ministry of Transport submitted to the Prime Minister earlier this year, the aviation license of Vietjet Air has already expired as it has not come into operation, despite having been set up for 2 years. In May 2011, the Malaysian-based budget airline AirAsia signed an... 

Vietnam’s growing attraction to international travelers is creating a lot of opportunities for United Airlines to maintain business growth momentum in this Southeast Asian country, said the airline’s vice president for Asia Pacific. James Mueller told reporters in HCMC last week that Vietnam was emerging as a tourist destination and more travelers had been interested in this country. Moreover,... 

Local aviation authorities are drafting changes to existing regulations including higher chartered capital requirements for new airlines in a move to prevent unqualified investors from joining the increasingly competitive market. New airlines must have at least VND300 billion (US$14.6 million) if they register one to 10 airplanes for domestic services, or VND100 billion (US$9.7 million) higher than... 

Vietnam Airlines will adjust up its fare ceilings next week, about 10 days after other local carriers publicized their highest economy-class rates for domestic flights in accordance with the Ministry of Finance’s recent decision. Like Jetstar Pacific and Air Mekong, Vietnam Airlines said different types of fares would be offered, including those fares equal to the ceilings as stated in the ministry’s...