Newly-operated Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh is seeking the Ministry of Transport’s permission for serving stop-over charter flights.

The national flag air carrier Vietnam Airlines and the private Vietjet Air continue to dominate the domestic aviation market, but newcomers may begin to take away some market share. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Though some private airlines have had to leave the market, investors are continuing to pour money into the aviation sector.

Bamboo Airways and the air carrier run by the joint venture between Thien Minh Group & AirAsia both announced they would take off in 2018. However, the latter has vanished, while the former has delayed its first flights to the year end.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Transport, which is drafting amendments for Decrees 92 and 30 on air transport, is contemplating a five-year extension to the maximum life expectancy of aircraft used by airlines in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - A lot of questions about Bamboo Airways, the newest airline in Vietnam, remain unanswered, from the quality of the fleet to the competitiveness of the air carrier.

Many private investors are willing to pour money into aviation infrastructure, though the business field requires huge capital and a long time to recover capital.

Ninety-four million passengers went through airports in 2017 in Vietnam. The number of air passengers is expected to reach 142 million by 2020. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Both Vietnamese and international analysts say that establishing a new air carrier was an audacious but risky step taken by the dollar billionaire Trinh Van Quyet.  

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam Airlines has finally decided to raise the salaries for its pilots to VND205-246 million. However, the debate over pilots’ salaries still continues.

VietNamNet Bridge - A deal worth $6 billion is expected to be officially inked in Washington DC at the end of June between Bamboo Airways, belonging to FLC Group, and Boeing.

By December 2017, Vietnam’s airlines had been operating over 160 airplanes of different kinds. The biggest fleet belongs to Vietnam Airlines with 86 aircraft, while Vietjet has 49 and Jetstar Pacific 19, according to Planespotter.

The great success of Vietjet Air, which was smaller and less experienced than Vietnam Airlines and other rivals when it joined the aviation market, has inspired newcomers like Bamboo Airways.

The number of passengers traveling by air has increased rapidly and more air carriers have joined the market, but infrastructure conditions have not developed proportionally.

VietNamNet Bridge - Bamboo Airways, the newly established airline, faces a lack of qualified workers and weak infrastructure, according to experts.