VietJet Air flying high at home and abroad

One year after officially joining Vietnam’s domestic aviation market, the country’s largest low-cost carrier has quickly formed a strong customer base thanks to a combination of high quality services and a series of head-turning promotions.

To date approximately one million passengers have travelled across the airline’s extensive domestic network, which covers Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Danang, Vinh, Haiphong, Hue, Dalat and Phu Quoc. Passengers have been charmed by the fun and friendly air stewards and impressed by the high-quality Airbus aircraft, but some timely promotions have also played a part in spreading the word. This Autumn, 100,000 tickets for domestic flights were sold for just VND10,000 each - less than half a US dollar for one airfare.

Fly high with big promotions

Now the airline is set to enter the international market - the first private carrier in Vietnam to do so. This first step comes courtesy of an international route linking Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, which will take off for the first time on February 10, an auspicious date in Vietnam as the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year).

“We are very excited to launch our inaugural international flight in the near future. This will give us the opportunity to showcase Vietnam from a different perspective - the fun side of Vietnam as a destination outside the traditional approach,” said Desmond Lin, VietJetAir’s business development director.

With every new route comes another mind-boggling promotion. On December 12 from 9pm to 11.59pm, you will be able to purchase tickets for the new route via www.vietjetair.com for just VND12,000 ($0.57).

Customers that miss out the first time can try again on December 20 when tickets for VND99,000 ($4.5) will be up for grabs. Bookings of promotional tickets are applicable for travel from February 10 to December 31, 2013.

“This is going to be a momentous occasion for Vietnam and Thailand and we want to celebrate by offering an amazing promotion for our customers,” Lin said.

The route will start off with one round trip per day initially with VietJetAir’s newly acquired Airbus 320. The ninety-minute-flight will depart from Ho Chi Minh City City at 11am and return from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1:30pm. “We are ready for international flights with a powerful fleet, international service system, experienced pilots and professional air stewards,” said Kamal Armel, director of VietJetAir’s Customer Service Center.

“Five-star” services

To further boost its reach in Thailand the website is now available in the Thai language. Furthermore, VietJetAir has also forged a partnership with the Thai travel agency QE Tour, which will immediately begin developing sales channels for the Vietnamese carrier all across Thailand.
The travel agency will also set up a Thai based hotline (+66 22 777 111) to help Thai customers and foreigners with all VietJetAir-related queries and schedules.

“We are confident that our “five-star” customer service team will be vital to the success of our international operation as they know the world’s businesses better than anyone,” added Kamal Armel.

Earlier this year, VietJetAir signed a contract with the Singaporean Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC) to ensure the carrier meets and maintains international aviation operation standards.

SIAEC will provide VietJetAir’s fleet of Airbus A320s with inventory technical management (ITM) services including maintenance, component repair and warehousing. These services will help ensure the safe operation of the fleet, save maintenance costs and make effective use of available warehouses for both sides.

VietJetAir has also invested in further professionalising its fleet and expanding routes while pioneering advanced technologies with online procedures and the introduction of self-check-in kiosks.

“VietJetAir will continue to invest strongly in order to better serve our customers and contribute to the development of the domestic aviation industry,” Lin said.

The airline has already earned a number of industry plaudits. At the 2012 Budgie$ & Travel Awards held recently in London, VietJetAir’s connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi was shortlisted as one of Top Five Best New Routes. The airline plans to increase its fleet to 15 aircraft by 2015 and open more international routes to major destinations in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia in 2013.