Thai VietJet to launch scheduled flights in March

Thai VietJet Air will launch its first ever scheduled flights in March 2015, it has been confirmed. The new low-cost venture  will commence flights between Bangkok and Phuket on March 29th.

The carrier, which is based at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, started operating charter services in late 2014 but has been waiting to launch its regular scheduled flights.

And the airline said it will finally be able to commence domestic flights in March, ahead of Thailand’s busy Songkran Festival period, following the delivery of a new Airbus A320 aircraft.

Thai VietJet will operate domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi to Phuket, Udon Thani and Krabi, as well as international flights to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

The airline has endured a difficult birth; it was originally a joint venture between VietJet and Thailand’s Kan Air, but the Thai partner’s founder, Somphong Sooksanguan, recently confirmed that he has now sold 41% of his 51% stake in the venture to an unnamed investor.

Speaking to the Bangkok Post, Somphong cited differences between his and VietJet’s business management styles as the main reason for the split.

The original Vietnamese unit, VietJet Air, has also expanded its fleet in time for the country’s Lunar New Year holidays with the arrival of its 21st aircraft.

The new A320 touched down at HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport on 12 February 2015, marking the third out of a huge order for 100 A320s placed by the airline in 2013.  Like all VietJet’s fleet, the new A320 comes fitted with 180 seats in an all-economy class layout.

VietJet now operates approximately 150 flights per day on 28 domestic and international routes across the region, including services to Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Cambodia. It is also planning to expand its international network across the Asia Pacific region, from both Vietnam and Thailand.