Vietnamese carrier grounds services

 Private Vietnamese airline, Air Mekong, is on the verge of shutting down after announcing the grounding of all flights as of 1 March 2013.

According to an online statement posted late last week, the suspension was designed to give the carrier time to restructure and become profitable in a ‘difficult’ aviation market.

Changes to the airline will include new aircraft and a potential shake-up in personnel, Thanh Nien News reported.

After the last flight, schedule for 28 February, completes its journey, the airline will return its four Bombardier CRJ900 to lender, Skywest Airlines before commencing its search for new aircraft.

In an interview with VnExpress, Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam deputy chief Vo Huy Cuong said it may be some time before the carrier resumes operations.

“Air Mekong would like to thank to our customers and hope to continue to receive the enthusiastic support of customers when the company returned to the market in the near future,” a statement from the carrier read.

Air Mekong was established in 2009 and launched flights on 9 October 2010.

The carrier is a member of the BIM Group and is based out of Phu Quoc Airport. 

Earlier this month, Gulf carrier, Bahrain Air, also announced the grounding of services as it entered voluntary liquidation.

Sourced: etravelblackboard