Vietnam Airlines (VN, Hanoi Noi Bai International) plans to raise its charter capital in the fourth quarter of 2017, following a strong nine months that saw a pre-tax profit of VN2.3 billion (USD101 million), reports NDH.vn.

The carrier went public in November 2014 with a small stake sale which raised USD51 million. It went on to offer 1.23 billion shares on the Hanoi Stock Exchange's Board for Unlisted Public Companies (UPCoM) in January 2017. Many predict it will finally migrate to either the Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi Stock Exchange by the end of the year.

In the charter capital raise, Vietnam Airlines will offer shares to existing shareholders. It is envisaged this will allow it to pursue its five-year fleet development plan for 2020-2025, and also to make other investments in operational and commercial efficiencies.

The majority-state-owned-carrier currently operates fifty-seven A321-200s, six A330-200s, eight A350-900s and eleven B787-9s on flights throughout Asia, as well as select destinations in Europe and Australia.