Vietnamese airlines 'died young'

Trai Thien Air Cargo

Trai Thien Air Cargo was established on June 11, 2008, with a registered capital of 500 billion VND. This is the first private airline in Vietnam licensed to specialize in transporting goods, mail, and parcels domestically and internationally, focusing on the domestic North-South market and the Southeast Asian market, the Northeast Asian market.

According to the establishment records, Trai Thien Air Cargo operates Boeing 737-300 Freighter aircraft converted from passenger aircraft to cargo aircraft approved by Boeing's aircraft manufacturing technical facilities.

This airline was granted a license to operate domestic air cargo transportation since October 2009.

But one year after being licensed, Trai Thien Air Cargo still has not announced plans to purchase aircraft or schedule flights. Meanwhile, the company's employees have continuously filed complaints about unpaid wages.

In December 2011, this airline's business license was revoked due to lack of operational activities.

Before being shut down, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam created favorable conditions for Trai Thien Air Cargo to participate in domestic transportation, but the airline showed no signs of being able to fly. According to regulations, if the airline does not take off within 12 months, it will be forced to withdraw its business license.

Indochina Airlines

Excluding Jetstar Pacific (with State capital represented by Vietnam Airlines), Indochina Airlines is the first private airline to operate in Vietnam.

Musician Ha Dung's Indochina Airlines was licensed to be established on May 30, 2008 with the initial name of Tang Toc Aviation Joint Stock Company, international transaction name AirSpeedUp JSC, charter capital of 200 billion VND. By October 17, 2008, the airline changed its name to Indochina Airlines Joint Stock Company.

On November 25, 2008, Indochina Airlines made its first commercial flight, operating domestic routes. At its peak, Indochina Airlines operated about 6 routes.

But due to the impact of the global economic crisis, the number of passengers decreased, so Indochina Airlines had to cut the number of planes by half and the flight frequency also decreased to only 2 flights/week.

By September 2009, this airline had to abandon the Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang route and only maintained the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi route with one plane.

On October 31, 2009, Indochina Airlines stopped all commercial promotion activities and returned the last leased aircraft to its partner.

Due to financial difficulties, Indochina Airlines fell into debt for fuel from Skypec (then Vietnam Aviation Petroleum Company - Vinapco). At the end of 2010, Vinapco sued Indochina Airlines at the Hanoi Economic Court. In addition, Indochina Airlines also owed employees salaries.

In 2011, Indochina Airlines owed its partners about 60 billion VND. Of this, the debt for fuel was 25 billion VND, including both principal and overdue interest.

By the end of 2011, this airline asked to stop flying. In December 2011, the Ministry of Transport officially revoked the airline's license.

Air Mekong

Air Mekong was granted an air transport business license by the Ministry of Transport on October 30, 2008.

In October 2010, Air Mekong organized its first commercial flight. After 2 years of operation, Air Mekong opened 8 routes, connecting destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot, Hai Phong and Vinh.

The difference in Air Mekong's business strategy is choosing the Bombardier CRJ900 narrow-body aircraft with less than 90 seats, exploiting sea tourism routes.

In March 2013, Air Mekong temporarily suspended flights due to many factors such as financial difficulties, high operating costs and aircraft restructuring.

After 1 month of requesting to temporarily suspend flights, Air Mekong's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) expired. After more than 1 year of suspension, Air Mekong still has no signs of returning to flight and is not qualified to maintain its air transport business license according to regulations.

In early 2015, Air Mekong's air transport business license was officially revoked (Photo: Nguoi Dong Hanh)

Air Mekong also owes nearly VND26 billion to the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV). This debt arises from contracts for providing take-off/landing services, parking lots...

On January 6, 2015, Air Mekong's air transport business license was officially revoked.

Blue Sky

Blue Sky Aviation Joint Stock Company was granted a general aviation business license on June 8, 2010.

Initially, Blue Sky registered to operate more than 20 domestic tourist routes. The company planned to operate aircraft such as helicopters, seaplanes and other fixed-wing aircraft.

But 10 years after being licensed, Blue Sky still has not been granted an AOC and has no flight operations.

In October 2020, the Ministry of Transport revoked the general aviation business license granted to Blue Sky by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. The reason was that Blue Sky had not been granted an AOC and had not yet started operating flights.

According to regulations, a general aviation business license is revoked if an AOC is not granted within 3 years from the date of issuance of this license.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

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