Vietjet glides over pandemic with strong third-quarter performance

Vietjet stood firm in the face of the global pandemic

The pandemic has caused a fundamental impact on the airline’s core business, air transportation, with its revenue being posted at VND2.802 trillion ($121.8 million) with a post-tax loss of VND926 billion ($40.26 million). The consolidated third-quarter revenue was VND2.809 trillion ($122.13 million) with post-tax loss of VND971 billion ($42.2 million).

The results turn out to be better than expected, and are deemed positive compared to other airlines in Vietnam and the world.

The airline’s total assets are VND45.269 trillion ($1.97 billion) with the owner’s equity being at VND16.329 billion ($709.96 million) including treasury shares. Its current liquidity ratio remains at 1.14 while debt to equity ratio is staying as low as 0.74, which are among the lowest in the global aviation industry. It allows Vietjet to proceed with its mid- and long-term financing plans in order to strengthen its financial position. The airlines’s capital flows are also significantly increased thanks to the full resumption of its domestic flight network.

During the third quarter, Vietjet has operated up to 15,000 safe flights, serving more than 3 million passengers in the domestic market. The airline also operated 32 international flights, bringing 7,440 stranded Vietnamese back home from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines strictly in line with the safety regulations of the Ministry of Health and the aviation authorities.

Regarding commercial flights, Vietjet has acted swiftly to reopen international routes to Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan) since September 29 when the pandemic has been put under control in Vietnam and a number of countries in the region. During the first nine months of this year, the airports were notably no longer overloaded with Vietjet’s On-time Performance (OTP) reaching an average of 91 per cent and the aircraft reliability rate at 99.64 per cent.

Vietjet has constantly introduced various big promotion campaigns and many products, bringing new values to the customers during this period. In September, the airline has also launched a brand new ticket class called Deluxe in addition to the current SkyBoss and Eco classes. They come with attractive benefits and privileges specifically designed for different customer segments in order to meet the travelling demand of the passengers, diversify the airline’s customer base, and increase sales and generate extra revenue.

Vietjet has also initiated new business ventures including the self-handling ground operations at Noi Bai International Airport to optimise operating costs, independently monitor its operations, and facilitate extra ancillary revenue at the airport as well as better manage service quality.

The airline has been proactively carrying out cost-saving measures like optimising operating costs per block hour and constantly negotiating with various suppliers which so far has helped to cut expenses according to flight hours. All in all, Vietjet’s operating costs are down by between 50 and 70 per cent.

Vietjet has applied for permission from the State Bank of Vietnam to launch e-wallet services, as well as to implement a loyalty programme.

The government’s support has lifted great pressure off domestic airlines with the introduction of Circular No.10/2020/TT-BGTVT on September 1, 2020. Accordingly, Vietjet and other domestic airlines are granted a 50 per cent fee waiver for flight operating services and especially for take-off and landing and ground operations until the end of 2021. The government has also waived the environmental protection tax on jet fuel as well as offer preferential loans for the airlines. It has certainly helped Vietjet to reduce costs and strengthen its internal strength for a robust recovery post COVID-19.

Vietjet’s results in third quarter 2020 is seen as one of few bright spots on the global aviation map that mostly went dark in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The third-quarter financial statements of several airlines all point to big losses. Experts, however, believe the aviation industry has hit rock bottom in the third quarter and will begin its recovery in the fourth quarter. US carrier American Airlines reported a quarterly revenue of $3.2 billion, a decrease of 73 per cent on-year. Another US carrier Southwest Airlines posted a quarterly revenue of $1.8 billion, down 68.2 per cent on-year. The UK’s British Airways, meanwhile, said it had to cut the majority of flights and brought most of it operations to a halt.

As the domestic market is now in full swing, Vietjet, being well prepared with comprehensive resources and backed by the low-cost carrier business model, is expected to stand firm followed by fast recovery and robust growth once the global aviation market bounces back.