VietJetAir flying high

VietJetAir prepares to welcome its three millionth passenger

Not yet two years after launching its first commercial flight, VietJetAir this month is planning to welcome its three millionth passenger, securing its place as the most successful private airline since Vietnam opened its aviation market to private investors.

To celebrate the milestone, the budget carrier is announcing the offer of 300,000 tickets at super-cheap price of VND3,000 for one airfare – less than a quarter of a dollar. The promotion campaign will be applied within one month, from August 21 to September 19, for all VietJetAir’s air-routes, even international connections. Travel time will be extended from September 5, 2013 until December 31, 2014.

This is not the first time Viet JetAir has offered a promotion campaign since it started flying in the fourth quarter of 2011. Just last month, to celebrate the arrival of two brand new Airbus aircraft, VietJetAir launched a mega-sale with 10,000 tickets up for grabs for just VND99,000 ($4.70) for all routes. Such promotions have brought many opportunities for Vietnamese who has even never thought about flying before because of the typically high cost.

“I bought six tickets for my family to fly with VietJetAir to Danang last month for a holiday. It’s really exciting. We saved a lot of money for other entertainments. If we hadn’t bought cheap tickets from

VietJetAir, my parents would have never agreed to have a holiday in Danang this summer,” said Nguyen Thanh Dung, a 32-year-old woman from Hanoi.

Achieving three million passengers within two years is clear evidence of the dramatic growth of VietJetAir, which set a goal to become the largest low-cost carrier in South East Asia.

VietJetAir now operates more than 400 flights per week, with 11 domestic routes and two international routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok.

VietJetAir will resume its flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hue from September 20 following the reopening of Phu Bai airport. In addition, the carrier will launch new routes in October, from Hanoi to Hue and Buon Ma Thuot, and between Ho Chi Minh City and Quy Nhon.

While VietJetAir attracts passengers with its low airfares, that help the carrier to record average load factor of over 90 per cent, it has also provided constant innovation of services. Images painted on its aircraft promote VietJetAir a dynamic and young airline for a dynamic, youthful nation.

A number of colourful characters from the up-coming animated film Planes have been painted on Viet

JetAir aircraft in an exciting collaboration with Disney. Planes, which is set to hit Vietnamese screens on September 21, is an entertaining tale of adventure told at a dizzying speed.

Its main character is Dusty - a crop duster that is something of a country bumpkin, and also afraid of heights. However, Dusty is desperate to overcome his fears and take part in the biggest-ever jet race. With the whole-hearted support of his new found friends, Dusty stretches out his wings to face the biggest challenge of his life. This is truly a story that encourages others to overcome such obstacles with all their hearts.

Alongside the striking images of Dusty on its planes, VietJetAir will be offering various souvenirs and gifts featuring images of the fun and friendly characters.

This isn’t the first time the airline has taken a step away from its standard, patriotic red and yellow base colours. Last year, the airline featured the country’s official logo (a stylised five-petal lotus flower) and slogan, Vietnam - Timeless Charm, on its jets in a special collaboration with the national tourism board.

The airline has also featured the image of its own famously fun and friendly stewards, as well as cinema star Johnny Tri Nguyen and Miss Vietnam Mai Phuong Thuy.

VietJetAir strives to exceed passenger expectations for services and has become the fun and friendly airline of choice in Vietnam. For example, on the occasion of Tet, on the inaugural flight for the New Lunar Year, VietJetAir sent its best wishes to passengers and presented them with gifts.

VietJetAir has also become famous for its exciting mid-flight performances to celebrate holidays and the launch of new flights. Miss Vietnam played the role of a VietJetAir stewardess on one flight, while on another the God of Health, Luck and Happiness delivered lucky money to passengers.

Last year passengers witnessed Hawaiian style dancing, a Guinness record-breaking flash-mob, a Lady Gaga-lookalike, and a Marilyn Monroe-lookalike performing in Vinh airport to celebrate the launch of a new route. The airline also hosted an exotic highland dancing show to celebrate the first flight to Buon Ma Thuot and a number of activities were held on Children’s Day.

Boasting a world-class fleet of modern Airbus jets, high quality services and low cost fares, not to mention fast and efficient payment systems, VietJetAir has also won over many admirers thanks to the airline’s fun, friendly attitude on board and in-flight entertainment.

The airline has received numerous accolades both locally and internationally. Readers of the Vietnam Economic Times voted VietJetAir as the best airline for its friendly services and promotions in Vietnam. In London, at the Budgies & Travel Awards 2012 VietJetAir was nominated in the category for Top 5 Best New Route Launch along with SpiceJet (India), EasyJet (the UK), Southwest (the US) and AirAsia X (Malaysia).

“We strive continually to provide our passengers with the best possible services,” said Desmond Lin, business development director of VietJetAir.

“This is why we have invested in a fleet of brand-new, modern Airbus planes. The new aircraft will not only help serve growing demand but also help support a stable flight schedule, so we can now better manage periodical technical checks and maintenances without adjusting our flight schedules,” he said.

VietJetAir has just received two more planes, bringing the total number of jets in its fleet to eight. The carrier will boast 10 aircrafts at the end this year and 15 aircrafts by 2015.

Furthermore, VietJetAir is a pioneer in Vietnam by providing hi-tech services such as kiosks for self-check in, web check in and mobile apps for booking tickets and checking in by phone.

The CAPA-Centre for Aviation, a global aviation analysis provider, late last year ranked VietJetAir the second largest airline in Vietnam in term of market share, surpassing Jetstar Pacific Airlines.

VietJetAir’s stated ambition is to become one of the largest low-cost carriers in Southeast Asia and it has already implemented this plan.

In June, VietJetAir declared its intention to launch a joint-venture in Thailand by signing a memorandum of understanding with Kan Air with the aim of further expanding into international markets. VietJetAir will co-operate with Kan Air, a dynamic airline now operating in Thailand, to release a new generation airline called Thai VietJetAir, which is expected to commence operations in early 2014 with two to three modern A320 aircrafts.

“In future we hope to make it even easier for Vietnamese and foreign travellers to enjoy high quality, low cost flights to Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, and many more destinations,” said Lin.