Airways compete fairly, says Minister of Transport

Dec 18th at 21:35

18-12-2012 21:35:48+07:00

Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang talked with VietNamNet about the concerns related to the two airlines Air Mekong and VietJet Air

From December 15, 2012, three airways - Vietnam Airline, Air Mekong and VietJet Air - have opened their Hanoi-Phu Quoc route. Do private airlines have difficulty in competing with the state airlines? Are Mekong Air and VietJet Air foreign-invested or Vietnamese firms?

Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang said that the Vietnamese Government's policy is to encourage all economic sectors to invest in providing air transport services if they fully meet the conditions prescribed by the Vietnamese law. Private airlines are completely equal in competition with the state airline and they do not encounter any difficulties.

VietJet Air was formed with the capital of 30 shareholders which were Vietnamese organizations and individuals, including four founding shareholders, in September 2007, with a capital of about VND500 billion ($25 million). VietJet Air started commercial activities from December 2011.

At present, VietJet Air has 20 shareholders which are organizations and individuals in Vietnam, with a capital of VND600 billion ($30 million.) The largest shareholders are: Sovico JSC (42.512 percent, equivalent to VND225.05 billion - $16 million), Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao (30 percent, VND180 billion - $9 million), Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung (19 percent, VND114 billion – $5.7 million), HD Bank (5 percent - VND30 billion or $1.5 million0), Bac Ha Investment Corporation (1 percent, VND6 billion - $300,000), Ms. Nguyen Thanh Ha (0.5 percent, VND3 billion).

The information that VietJet Air is owned by the family of a state leader is fabricated.

Mekong Air was licensed in October 2008 and it began operating in October 2010. At first, Mekong Air was formed by Vietnamese organizations and individuals such as Kien Giang Production Investment and Development Company, BIM Group and Vietnamese individuals, with the initial charter capital of VND200 billion ($10 million).

When it started operation, the charter capital of Mekong Air rose to VND285.7 billion ($14.2 million), of which BIM Group contributed 73.9 percent, Vietnamese organizations and individuals with 8.5 percent and Sky West (USA) contributed 17.6 percent.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport have coordinated to manage service prices at airports and freight rates to ensure fair competition among airlines under the Aviation Law of Vietnam.