News
VietJet posts US$108 million nine-month profit, mulls Darwin route
November 16th 2018
Hanoi-headquartered VietJet Air has reported an operating profit of VND2.5 trillion (US$108 million) for the nine months to September 30, up 13% year-on-year. Read More » The LCC’s revenues during the period improved 50%, to VND25 trillion.
Nevertheless, not everything is rosy for VietJet. Just like its competitors, the carrier noted an 11.8% year-on-year increase in CASKs, to US$4.25 cents, which it said was largely the result of higher fuel costs and network expansion. The airline’s RASKs improved 14.8%, to US$4.88 cents.
VietJet added 34 international and four domestic routes in the first nine months, to September 30. The budget carrier now serves 69 international and 39 domestic destinations via 103 routes.
VietJet carried 16.9 million passengers in the first nine months, up 34% , while capacity grew 34.9%, to 19.9 million seats. The LCC said it achieved an average utilization rate of 14.2 hours an aircraft during the period, an impressive figure. Load factor remained steady at 88%.
Last week, VietJet ordered another 50 A321neo. The purchase commitment increased the carrier’s order for A320 Family aircraft to 171 aircraft, including 46 already delivered. The order backlog is 120 A321neo and five A321ceo. VietJet also has 200 B737 MAX jets on firm order.
The airline is looking to add intercontinental flights to its network. This week, NT News in Australia reported that VietJet could be launching flights to Darwin in 2019.
“We have already taken the opportunity to meet with the vice-president and staff of Vietjet, one of Vietnam’s leading airlines, to encourage them to consider establishing new direct links between Ho Chi Minh City and Darwin,” Northern Territory chamber president, Greg Ireland, told the paper.
Darwin is currently served from Asia by SilkAir from Singapore and Donghai Airlines from Shenzhen.
