Vietnamese passengers experience 'made in China' aircraft on the Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang route - Photo: NGOC DUC
According to sources, Vietjet is reporting to the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam about the wet-lease operation plan (including aircraft and crew) with COMAC's ARJ21 aircraft line .
Specifically, the airline plans to wet lease two COMAC ARJ21 aircraft from Chengdu Airlines, starting from January 15, 2025 to serve the Lunar New Year peak. The main routes to be operated include Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to and from Con Dao airport.
Because this is a new type of aircraft, the airline has requested the authorities to support the ACMI, MOU, FAOC contract procedures and requested the airport and ground service units to coordinate to deploy the operation.
The flight plan to Con Dao changed for many reasons, including the delayed delivery of the aircraft, forcing the airline to switch to Chinese aircraft.
Previously, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam informed that Vietjet of female billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao planned to fly to Con Dao using Embraer E190 aircraft.
In preparation for the operation plan, Vietjet has actively recruited pilots, flight attendants and invested in equipment for the Embraer E190 aircraft. However, the official time to operate this route has not been announced yet.
The reopening of direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao brings many benefits to passengers, especially tourists from the North who want to explore the wild beauty of this pearl island. Previously, Bamboo Airways operated this route but stopped operating since April 2024.
Currently, passengers traveling from Hanoi to Con Dao often have to transfer to Tan Son Nhat or Can Tho airports, then continue their journey by Vasco ATR72 aircraft (a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines). This process not only prolongs the time but also increases the cost.
With the ATR72 aircraft (66 seats), Vasco is still maintaining the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao route. However, the limited number of seats and long flight times make booking tickets, especially during peak season, difficult.
COMAC airline aims to break the monopoly of Airbus and Boeing
Founded in 2008, COMAC is a Chinese state-owned enterprise specializing in research and development of commercial aircraft with the ambition of breaking the monopoly in this field of the West, Airbus and Boeing.
Currently, two aircraft lines of the Chinese manufacturer have entered operation: the narrow-body C919 model and the regional jet ARJ21.
Of which, the C919 is the result of 14 years of development by COMAC, certified by China at the end of September 2022. With a length of nearly 39 m, the aircraft has a maximum capacity of 192 passengers and a range of 4,075 km.
The ARJ21 is the first aircraft to be researched and produced by COMAC itself. This regional jet model uses two GE CF34-10A engines from the US; flight and landing equipment from Liebherr (Germany). The ARJ21 has a range of 2,225 to 3,700 km.
Chinese carriers have used the jet on many domestic routes. According to COMAC, the ARJ21 has flown 13 million passengers. COMAC will deliver the regional jet to its first international customer in Indonesia in 2022.
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