VietJet expands to Russia

18 Sep 2014 01:07:28

atwonline.com

Vietnamese low-cost carrier (LCC) VietJet Air has flagged the next step in its expansion plans on the back of recent figures showing 182% increase in passenger numbers over the previous 12 months. The carrier said it is looking to extend its roster of international flights, currently restricted to Asian destinations, starting with Russia.

So far, these include Bangkok, Singapore and Seoul, but earlier this month VietJet, which currently operates 15 Airbus A320s, signed a memorandum of understanding with Vladivostok International Airport to set up direct flights from Vietnam to Vladivostok. It has also said it intends to link to the tourist destination at Cambodia's Siem Reap.

"œOur objective is to be a multinational airline with a global product," VietJet CEO Luu Duc Kanh told ATW. "œOur mission is and has been to always expand our network," he said. What aircraft will be used for these flights is as yet unclear.

VietJet, which carried 3 million passengers in the first six months of 2014, has seen rapid growth since its first flights late in 2011. In 2013 the carrier accounted for 26% of Vietnamese market share, but this was almost entirely on domestic routes. To break out of the relatively fresh local market, the carrier will need to compete with other Asian low-cost carriers (LCC) including AirAsia, Tigerair, Nok Air, Thai Smile and more.

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