Pacific Airlines

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pacific Airlines

IATA BL	ICAO PIC	Callsign PACIFIC AIRLINES
Founded		1991
Hubs		Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Fleet size		2
Destinations		5
Parent company		Pacific Airlines
Headquarters		Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Key people		Tran Huu Tien (Chairman) Luong Hoai Nam (Managing Director)
Website: http://www.pacificairlines.com.vn

Pacific Airlines is an airline based in Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It operates domestic scheduled passenger and cargo services and provides charter flights by request to regional destinations. The airline is currently undergoing operational and ownership restructuring to turn itself into a low-cost carrier, and is the target for an impending investment of up to 30% by Qantas^[1].

1 History
2 Destinations
3 Fleet
4 News
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

The airline was established in 1991 and started operations in 1992. It is a joint venture among three of Vietnam's state-run enterprises. Pacific Airlines has three shareholders: the Ministry of Finance (making up 86.49%), Saigon Tourist (13.06%), and Tradevico (0.45%).

It was the first airline formed in Vietnam following changes in the law to allow foreign investment in the country's airlines. It is now the second largest airline in Vietnam (at January 2005). In 2005, it narrowly escaped closure due to the inability of paying its debt and continuous non-profitable operations. Vietnam Airlines's share in the company has been transferred to the Ministry of Finance although its chairman remains and an ex-Vietnam Airlines employees.'

[edit] Destinations

Pacific Airlines is a regional carrier. It focuses on main domestic routes and major international routes from its main base Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

[edit] Present Destinations

Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Kaohsiung (Kaohsiung International Airport, KHH) (from Ho Chi Minh City)
- Taipei (Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, TPE) (from Ho Chi Minh City)
Vietnam
- Da Nang (Da Nang International Airport, DAD)
- Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport, HAN)
- Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport,SGN)

[edit] Future Destinations

Pacific Airlines is planning to launch four new international routes that connect Ho Chi Minh City with:

Cambodia
- Siem Reap (Angkor International Airport, REP)
Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KUL)
Thailand
- Bangkok (Bangkok International Airport, BKK)
Singapore
- Singapore (Singapore Changi Airport, SIN)

[edit] Past Destinations

China, People's Republic of
- Hong Kong (Hong Kong International Airport, HKG) (from Danang) (suspended in mid-2004 due to loss)

[edit] Fleet

The Pacific Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at August 2006) ^[2]:

1 Airbus A320-200
1 737-400

Previously operated aircraft that were sold to other operators^[3]:

[edit] News

Vietnam's Pacific Airlines will sell a 30% stake to Temasek Holdings, Singapore's state-owned investment company, in the second half of 2005. A Ministry of Finance official said Pacific Airlines is now valued at $167 million, and Temasek will invest $50 million to acquire the 30% stake. With the cash injection from Temasek, Pacific Airlines, which has accumulated debts of VND215 billion ($14 million) after more than 10 years in operation, will be able to pay off its debts and prepare for new developments, he said.
November 4, 2005: Pacific Airlines inaugurated its new service connecting Da Nang with Hanoi. With the introduction of this new route, Pacific Airlines now completes a link between three main hubs in Vietnam: Hanoi in the north, Danang in the central and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.