The first Airbus A320 aircraft of VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Co. (VietJet Air) touched down the runway of Tan Son Nhat International Airport on Wednesday, less than two weeks ahead of the carrier’s maiden commercial flight.

 

This is one of the three Airbus A320s that VietJet Air leased from its foreign partner Alafco Aviation in Kuwait under a leasing contract the two sides inked in October. The private carrier will receive the two remaining planes in the run up to its HCMC-Hanoi services on December 25.

 

Nguyen Thanh Ha of VietJet Air said VietJet Air was licensed as the first private airline in Vietnam to operate both domestic and international flights based on low-priced and flexible fares, providing opportunities for more people to travel by air and supporting trade, investment and tourism.

 

Ha said VietJet Air invested in new Airbus A320 aircraft and planned to add three to five planes to the carrier’s fleet every year in order to expand services within Vietnam and spread its wings to other markets in Asia.

 

Luu Duc Khanh, managing director of VietJet Air, said at a debut ceremony held in HCMC earlier this month that the airline intended to expand its aircraft fleet to six by 2012, nine by 2013, 12 by 2014 and 15 by 2015.

 

The carrier’s development strategy is envisaged having daily numbers of two to eight flights from HCMC to Hanoi, two to four to Danang City and one to two to Haiphong City as well as one to two flights from Hanoi to each of Cam Ranh Airport and Dalat.

 

Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and Korea are among VietJet Air’s target future international destinations. Khanh said the airline would launch international flights based on demand for air travel to and from Vietnam and the need for low-cost air services in those markets.

 

VietJet Air is Vietnam’s second low-cost carrier after Jetstar Pacific. It got the Ministry of Transport’s license in late 2007, with total chartered capital of VND600 billion (more than US$28.5 million).