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| Founded | 2007 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | December 25, 2011 | |||
| Hubs | ||||
| Fleet size | 1 (+ 2 Orders) | |||
| Destinations | 3 | |||
| Company slogan | Giá rẻ hơn, bay nhiều thêm- Save More, Fly More | |||
| Headquarters | Hanoi, Vietnam | |||
| Website | www.vietjetair.com | |||
VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company (Vietnamese: Công ty Cổ phần Hàng không VietJet), trading as VietJet Air, is a low-cost airline[1] in Vietnam. It was granted its initial approval to operate by the Vietnamese Minister of Finance in November 2007,[2] but due to various logistical and legal complications, the airline could not begin operating flights until late 2011. Regional budget carrier AirAsia announced in February 2010 that it planned to purchase a 30% stake in the airline through a joint venture agreement, but retracted its plan in October 2011, citing "a failure to obtain Vietnamese regulatory approvals".[3] Despite the setbacks, VietJet Air's first flight will be operated on December 25, 2011, flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.[4][5]
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The airline has its head office on the fourth floor of Flower Mansion in Tay Ho, Hanoi, with a branch in Ho Chi Minh City on the ninth floor of the Hai Au Building, Tan Binh District.[6] It was the first privately-owned airline to be established in Vietnam,[2] and as of its expected launch in December 2011, it will become the second private airline (after Air Mekong) to offer domestic service in Vietnam, as well as the fifth airline overall[nb 1] to offer civil domestic flights, after Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, Air Mekong and the Vietnam Air Service Company (VASCO).[7] In its initial plan, the Hanoi-based airline intended to offer flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, gradually expanding its network to include other Asian countries, such as Singapore, China, Thailand, Korea, and Japan.[8] The airline appointed Brian Presbury as its Chief Executive Officer in May 2008.[9]
Initially, VietJet had shown the intention to commence flights in late 2008 or early 2009.[8] Throughout the next few years, the expected launch date was repeatedly pushed back, first to late 2009, then mid-2010.[10] Airline officials gave different reasons for the delays, including increased fuel prices and other financial problems. Later news reports from the state-controlled Vietnam News Agency echoed these initial reports, claiming that "the airline's four-year delay in takeoff was due to the global economic crisis."[5]
In February 2010, Southeast Asian carrier AirAsia announced that it had purchased a 30% stake in the airline.[11] By mid-2010, a date of October 2010 was given for the maiden flight, with officials claiming the additional delay was due to unresolved branding conflicts with the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV).[12]
By February 2011, VietJet was said to be "completing final stages" prior to launch before its operation license expired in June.[13] In March, AirAsia reportedly indicated it might withdraw funding from VietJet if the airline was unable resolve its branding issues before the June deadline.[14] Indeed, in October 2011, AirAsia announced it was calling off its plans to form a joint venture with VietJet, citing "a failure to obtain Vietnamese regulatory approvals", including the permission to use the AirAsia brand in the airline's commercial operations.[3] Despite the collapse of the AirAsia joint venture, VietJet announced in November that its launch plans would proceed, with the first flight to be operated on December 25, 2011, flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.[5]
In the initial stages of its operation, VietJet intends to offer service to the following destinations:[7]
In November 2011, the CAAV confirmed that VietJet had leased three Airbus A320 aircrafts, with the first expected to arrive in Vietnam within the month.[7]
| Aircraft | Total | Order | Passengers | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 1 | 2 | 180 | Short haul | Leased |
VN-A666 and VN-A668 are the first two aircraft delivered.
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