Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) and Jetstar Airways (JQ, Melbourne Airport) along with Vietnam Airlines (VN, Hanoi Noi Bai International) have collectively reaffirmed their commitment to the longterm expansion of Jetstar Pacific (Ho Chi Minh City). The Vietnamese budget carrier is a 70/30 joint-venture between Vietnam Airlines and Qantas Group.
Speaking after a shareholders meeting in Sydney this week, Vietnam Airlines CEO Dr Pham Ngoc Minh said on the back of strong growth for the first nine months of this year, the LCC would more than double its fleet from five aircraft in 2013 to twelve by year-end.
“Vietnam Airlines and our partners Qantas are committed to the long-term success of Jetstar Pacific,” Dr Minh said. “With the increased demand for low fares travel in Vietnam, we expect to grow Jetstar Pacific to a fleet of up to thirty aircraft by 2020.”
Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific's combined marketshare amounts to 70% Minh added.
Founded in 2008, Jetstar Pacific operates nine A320-200s and two A321-200s on flights to twenty-two destinations across Vietnam, Thailand, Macau, Singapore, and Hong Kong. A further two A320-200s are expected in July and August 2016 on lease from China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC).
