Is a low-cost Vietnamese airline about to take on Qantas and Virgin in the Australian market?
While evidence builds on moves by fast-growing VietJet to enter Australia’s domestic market, the country’s aviation authorities are saying little.
The airline, which already has subsidiaries in Thailand and Kazakhstan, is reported to have asked Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for an air operator certificate and permission to start a locally incorporated operation with 10 Boeing 737 aircraft, possibly in partnership with a local company.
CASA is not commenting. Neither is Sydney airport, where landing slots are available. Nor is VietJet which flies daily to Melbourne and Sydney from Ho Chi Minh City, as well as five times a week to Perth and Brisbane.
Australia has an expansive air rights agreement with Vietnam, allowing Vietnamese carriers to grow services into four airports.
VietJet, no doubt, has done its homework and has looked at the history of numerous airlines in Australia who have tried and failed to take on Qantas, its subsidiary Jetstar, and Virgin Australia.