Vietnam’s third private airline, Air Mekong, has received its Air Operator’s Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) and launched its first two routes, Hanoi – Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City – Phu Quoc.
“The CAAV certificate will open a new page for our development,” Air Mekong chairman Doan Quoc Viet told local media.
Air Mekong will expand operations in November, including flights to Da Lat in the Central Highlands and Da Nang city.
The airline has launched a promotional offer with 1,000 discount tickets on sale until November 9.Tickets are on sale at travel agents as well as Air Mekong’s website and customer care centres.
The other two private carriers already operating in Vietnam are Indochina Airlines and VietJet AirAsia.
The Qantas franchise in Vietnam, Jetstar Pacific, in which the Australian carrier has a 27 percent stake, has been struggling to establish itself in the face of local opposition.
Two Australian employees of the airline were detained by Vietnamese authorities in January in relation to losses on fuel contracts. They were questioned for six months before being allowed to fly back to Australia.
The airline’s Vietnamese chief executive was also arrested in connection with the fuel contract losses and only released from custody at the end of September. He remains under house arrest.
