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PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Bhd has signed a memorandum of cooperation reaffirming its intention to set up a low-cost carrier in Vietnam with local partners, Thien Minh Travel Joint Stock (TMG) and Hai Au Aviation Joint Stock Co (HAA).
AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said AirAsia is an Asean airline and Vietnam is one of the last remaining countries with a large population within the region that AirAsia is not in.
“Today’s memorandum reaffirms our commitment to making AirAsia in Vietnam happen. Last year, when we announced this joint venture (JV), we were bullish about Vietnam and we remain incredibly bullish about serving one of the most dynamic, fastest-growing economies in Asia,” he said at the signing ceremony, which was conducted on the sidelines of the Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2018 in Hanoi today.
Fernandes said AirAsia is already the largest foreign airline group in Vietnam by capacity, currently operating to five destinations in the country, including its latest addition of Phu Quoc.
“We will continue to expand our network to connect Vietnam to Asean and beyond, something our local JV will be able to accelerate. We couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of bringing more visitors to this amazing country and delivering true low-cost air travel to 95 million Vietnamese in the near future,” he added.
TMG CEO and HAA general director Tran Trong Kien said the number of international arrivals in Vietnam has doubled over the last three years while domestic and outbound travel have also grown.
“The sector has contributed greatly to recent economic development and social progress. Vietnam as a country needs better connectivity to continue this trend and for tourism to reach its full potential.
“Adding a new airline, especially at this stage and with an experienced operator like AirAsia, is a much-needed and welcomed move. This new airline will bring more and better choices to our people in the years to come,” he said.
AirAsia operates 141 return flights weekly on 13 routes, connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc with Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bharu in Malaysia, Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand and Manila in the Philippines. The airline has carried 12 million passengers to and from Vietnam since entering the market in 2005.
