The HCM City Tourism Association (HTA) and Vietnam Airlines have reached an agreement to cut tour prices. The carrier has offered a 40 per cent discount for groups of passengers flying from HCM City to Ha Noi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Da Lat between April and December this year. But for this, the travel firms have to slash their tour fees by at least 30 per cent. They have obliged. Vietrantour, for instance, has launched 10 tours designed specifically for this summer of which the highest priced is VND7.59 million. Ton That Hoa, secretary general of the HTA, said many travel firms were still negotiating with local partners to reduce their fees. After they reach agreement, the firms would join hands with the HTA to inform the public. But some firms have said that a 30 per cent price cut was beyond their capacity. The He Tre travel agency deputy director Tran The Dung said it was unreasonable to expect a 30 per cent cut because it would leave travel firms with no profits. — VNS … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines discounts fares
QUANG NINH — The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, will launch a three-day promotional programme in August, offering special discounts of 50 to 70 per cent of the airfare on international flights. Tickets bought during the three-day period will be valid between mid-September and December. The airline will also implement a regular promotional campaign with discounts of 20 to 30 per cent for flights to Taiwan, mainland China, Japan and South-east Asian countries. This programme will last until December 31.-VNS … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines set for major restructure
The Ministry of Transport has submitted a proposal to Prime Minister for approval to restructure national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines into a national group in the next eight years. The restructuring project aimed to develop the corporation into a large carrier group including key businesses in sectors of aviation transport, aviation industry and other relating services in the Southeast Asia. The ministry said Vietnam Airlines would have to implement four pillars in their restructuring programme including restructuring profession and business sectors, strategy and products, human resources and investment, finance and management to reach the target. Under the restructuring project, the group would have four aviation service companies, 15 subsidiaries, 12 joint ventures compared to the current 18 subsidiaries and 14 joint ventures and six new established companies. Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines aviation system would comprise the holding company, Vietnam Airlines, … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines to fly new China route
HA NOI — Vietnam Airlines (VNA) launched its new direct flight route from Ha Noi to China's Chengdo late last week with the frequency of three flights per week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Trinh Hong Quang, deputy head of Vietnam Airlines, said that this new route would help increase opportunities of economic, cultural, tourist and educational exchange and co-operation between Viet Nam and southwestern China. There are currently 36 direct flights weekly between the two countries.-VNS … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines acquires Jetstar Pacific
HA NOI – Vietnam Airlines Corporation will co-operate with Australia's Qantas Group to develop Jetstar Pacific (JPA), the first low-cost airline in Viet Nam, according to an agreement announced in Ha Noi yesterday. Vietnam Airlines also reported that it has become a 70 per cent stakeholder in JPA while Australia's Qantas Group, the JPA's parent company, retains 27 per cent. As planned, Vietnam Airlines will sell the remaining three per cent to Qantas Airways. On the same day, JPA also held a meeting with its shareholders to reach agreement on strategic orientation and necessary measures to help it develop and become the top low-cost airline firm in the country. JPA will focus on exploiting domestic and international routes with high capacity. It is expected to receive initial capital of AUD25 million (US$26 million) to replace its current Boeing 737 fleet in favour of new Airbus A320 aircraft by the middle of this year and expand its fleet to 15 planes. General Director of … [Read more...]
PVFC and CUB to finance Vietnam Airlines
HA NOI – PetroVietnam Finance Corporation (PVFC) and Cathay United Bank (CUB) will loan US$7.225 million to Vietnam Airlines to develop operations, according to the carrier. Vietnam Airlines intends to purchase standby engines for Airbus 321, part of a 10-plane investment project. This is expected to help the firm take initiative in operating its flights, maintaining service quality and ensuring business stability. As planned, Vietnam Airlines will expand its squadron to 115 planes by 2015 and 170 by 2020, mainly with aircrafts of the following types: Boeing 777; Airbus A330, A321, A320, A350 XWB; and Boeing 787-9. These are technologically advanced, fuel efficient and eco-friendly. Last May, Vietnam Airlines received a loan of more than $7 million from the Ocean Bank to buy standby engines made by the International Aero Engine AG for Airbus 321. -- VNS … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines adds flights for holiday
HCM CITY – The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to add 195 additional flights on domestic routes from April 27 to May 2 to meet the high demand for travel for the upcoming Southern Liberation Day and May Day holidays. The number of flights to and from central Da Nang City, where the international fireworks festival will take place, will have the highest number of flights, with 77 additional flights on the Ha Noi-Da Nang route, 56 extra flights on the HCM City-Da Nang route and four on the Da Nang-Hai Phong route. There will also be more flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to major sightseeing and recreational areas like Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Quang Binh and Hue, as well as 14 additional flights on three international routes, HCM City – Bangkok, HCM City–Hong Kong, and Ha Noi–Siem Reap.-VNS … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines aims to expand fleet
HA NOI — Vietnam Airlines has asked for 64 more aircraft than it originally requested in its development plan last year, more than doubling its fleet over the next eight years. The airline cited enhanced expansion plans in Asia, Europe, the Pacific and Atlantic, an airline source said yesterday. Under the new proposal sent to the Ministry of Transport, the airline wants to increase its fleet from its present 75 aircraft to 112 aircraft by 2015 and 171 by 2020. Last year, PM Nguyen Tan Dung approved a fleet plan of 85 aircraft by 2015 and 107 by 2020. Vietnam Airlines said it asked for the plan to be revised to expand its routes, both domestic and international. The airline said it wanted to exploit routes to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, expand flights in Asia and open new routes in Europe and across the Pacific and Atlantic. At present, the Vietnam Airlines' fleet of 75 aircraft serve 47 international and 38 domestic routes.-VNS … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines plans public offering next year
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is planning to make its initial public offering (IPO) by the end next year, under a restructuring plan submitted to the Ministry of Transport earlier this week. Under the plan for partial equitisation, about 70 to 80 percent of shares in the airline will continue to be held by the State. Vietnam Airlines chairman Pham Viet Thanh said that his corporation expected to raise at least US$200 million from the IPO, a target that will be fulfilled only if some of the shares are acquired by foreign investors. In 2015 and 2017, the airline expected to issue additional shares worth US$450 million to raise capital to buy nine Airbus A350 and four Boeing B787-9 aircraft for its fleet. During the re-organisation, the airline will hold 100 percent of its Vietnam Airlines Engineering Ltd and Vietnam Air Petrol Ltdsubsidiaries under a limited liability company model. The airline will also maintain its major shareholder status in nine … [Read more...]
Vietnam Airlines to slash fares in April
HA NOI — Domestic airlines have announced new local and international flight discounts for April. National carrier Vietnam Airlines will cut 40 per cent off its two-way flights from HCM City to Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Phu Quoc Island. The reduced fares will apply to flights undertaken from April to the end of December. Meanwhile, Jetstar Pacific will apply cuts to flights purchased between April 1 and 5. One-way Ha Noi-Singapore flights will be priced at VND950,000 (US$45.2), HCM City-Kuala Lumpur flights at VND645,575 ($30.7), Ha Noi-Manila flights at VND1,816 ($86.5), HCM City-Jakarta flights at VND794,051 ($37.8) and Ha Noi-HongKong flights at VND2,145,199 ($102). — VNS … [Read more...]