Jetstar Pacific will finally fly international

HO CHI MINH CITY - Since Jetstar Pacific took to the air a decade ago, taking over from incumbent carrier Pacific Airlines, the carrier has been rather unlucky in its development. Vietnamese Civil Aviation Administration gave a rough time to the company. One of the worst development was blocking the airline to fly international. Jetstar so far has only a network of domestic routes, flying mostly to Vietnam’s busiest routes from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.

But it will change by the end of the year with the carrier’s major stakeholders now ready to let the carrier flies international. According to Le Long Ha, CEO of Jetstar Pacific to reporters of the Saigon Times. The fact that Vietnam Airlines is now the main shareholder of Jetstar Pacific (68.4%) – in complement to Qantas with 30% of total share- helped certainly to open up the international market to Jetstar.

The first two routes to be served will be Ho Chi Minh City-Singapore next October followed by Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok in December. In parallel, the airline resumed last week its flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hue after two years of suspension. Jetstar Pacific plans also to inaugurate new domestic routes between Hanoi and Vinh as well as between HCM City and Thanh Hoa. Jetstar currently serves eight destinations within Vietnam.

The airline benefits from an increase in its capital by 35 million dollars which will help the launch of the four new flights. The fleet will consequently be increased from 10 Airbus A320 to 15 A320 in 2016.

In another development, Vietnam Airlines will open its first international flights to Phu Quoc, the Island located in the South near to Cambodia. The carrier plans to open for its winter schedule two weekly flights to Singapore as well as weekly flights to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Phu Quoc Airport is now one of Vietnam’s fastest growing air gateway, welcoming last year over 700,000 passengers and expecting over 900,000 passengers in 2014.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews