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Tag: travel

  • How Vietnam is overtaking Thailand as favorite destination for Indian travelers

    How Vietnam is overtaking Thailand as favorite destination for Indian travelers

    Vietnam’s landscapes, growing upscale tourism infrastructure, globally recognized cuisine, and expanding network of direct flights have made it a top destination for travelers from India in Southeast Asia, steadily surpassing Thailand.

    For years, Thailand was the go-to destination for Indian travelers visiting the region. However, more Indian tourists are now turning their attention to Vietnam, which offers a similar experience at more affordable prices. In late March, The Economic Times published an article titled “Forget Thailand, Vietnam is the new playground for Indian tourists,” noting that Vietnam is now drawing more interest from Indian travelers than any other Southeast Asian destination.

    New playground for India’s wealthy

    Vietnam has become a strong contender among high-end Indian travelers, as they seek alternatives to Japan and Singapore after visiting Thailand’s popular islands like Koh Samui and Phuket. The rising presence of luxury hotels, particularly in beach destinations like Phu Quoc, is attracting India’s elite.

    The Economic Times highlights that India’s wealthy organize approximately 5,000 ultra-luxury weddings annually, with budgets ranging from $250,000 to $500,000. Despite intense competition, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay successfully hosted the wedding of Indian billionaire Rushang Shah in 2019 and another billionaire couple’s ceremony in early 2024. The arrival of luxury brands like The Luxury Collection and Ritz Carlton Reserve in Phu Quoc further bolsters the island’s appeal.

    Beyond luxury stays, Phu Quoc offers a range of experiences that appeal to Indian travelers.

    Sun Paradise Land in southern Phu Quoc features attractions like the Guinness World Record-holding “Kiss of the Sea” multimedia show, nightly fireworks, the world’s longest three-wire cable car, and the Kiss Bridge.

    “Phu Quoc offered so many surprises. A morning cable car ride over the sea, fireworks at night… I’ve never experienced anything like that anywhere else,” said Rohan Khanna, a visitor from New Delhi.

    In addition to Phu Quoc, Ha Long Bay is also becoming a popular destination for Indian travelers. More and more wealthy Indian families are choosing Phu Quoc and Ha Long for milestone events, positioning Vietnam as a top Asian wedding destination. With its natural beauty, luxury hotels, and professional event services, both locations are proving ideal for hosting special moments.

    Outstanding culinary experiences

    Food plays a decisive role for Indian tourists when choosing a travel destination. Given the diversity in dietary and religious preferences across India, catering to halal or halal-friendly standards is essential to ensure repeat visits.

    Top tourist destinations in Vietnam, such as Sun World Ba Na Hills in Da Nang and Sun World Fansipan Legend in Sa Pa, have embraced these dietary needs, offering Indian tourists familiar flavors that meet their cultural requirements.

    Da Nang, which was added to the Michelin Guide’s 2024 expansion, has seen a significant increase in Indian visitors.

    Da Nang welcomed 222,000 Indian tourists in 2024, accounting for 5.3% of total international arrivals. Nearly 50% of Indian visitors to Vietnam chose Da Nang as their primary destination, solidifying its position as the most popular Vietnamese city among Indian travelers.

    Affordable food prices in Da Nang and other beach destinations like Phu Quoc also add to Vietnam’s appeal.

    Compared to regional competitors like Thailand, seafood in Vietnam is significantly more affordable. Thailand’s Nation Story even noted that seafood in Phu Quoc costs about half as much as in Thailand.

    More direct flights

    Vietnam’s growing network of direct flights from major Indian cities is also contributing to the rising demand. There are currently around 56 direct flights per week between the two countries. Several new direct routes, including one from Ahmedabad to Da Nang, were launched in 2024.

    Sandeep Arya, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, shared that aviation authorities from both countries are planning to add 14 more flights connecting cities like New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai with Vietnam. India is also encouraging airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and IndiGo to open more direct routes to boost tourism.

    According to the General Statistics Office, international arrivals to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2025 exceeded 6 million, a 29.6% increase year-on-year. Over 143,000 of these visitors were from India, continuing the trend of double-digit growth compared to the same period last year.

    In 2024, Vietnam welcomed more than 500,000 Indian tourists, making India one of its most promising inbound markets. With an expanding range of competitive offerings, Vietnam is well on its way to becoming the top destination for Indian travelers in Southeast Asia by 2025.

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  • Vietnam president sends congratulatory letter to Amanda Nguyen, first woman of Vietnamese origin to fly into space

    Vietnam president sends congratulatory letter to Amanda Nguyen, first woman of Vietnamese origin to fly into space

    Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong sent a letter of congratulations to Amanda Ngoc Nguyen as she became the first woman of Vietnamese woman to fly into space in a historic all-female crew this week.

    Blue Origin, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, organized a flight of New Shepard, a fully reusable, suborbital rocket system, with a crew of six women in West Texas, the U.S., on April 14 (local time).

    The flight, called mission NS-31, is the 11th human spaceflight project of Blue Origin. The six participants are outstanding women in many fields, including Vietnamese American Nguyen – founder and general director of the non-governmental organization RISE.

    The New Shepard’s journey was a great success, reaching an altitude of 100 km in space and returning safely. After the flight, Nguyen marked herself as the first woman of Vietnamese origin to fly into space.

    Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Nguyen Quoc Dung attended the New Shepard mission and presented a letter from State President Luong Cuong to Nguyen. In the letter, the President expressed his joy and pride that for the first time a woman of Vietnamese origin had flown into space, affirming the talent and intelligence of Vietnamese people in the U.S. and around the world.

    The President’s letter emphasized that in 2025, Vietnam and the U.S. will celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and in the overall relationship between the two countries, Vietnam highly appreciates the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in the U.S. to the development and progress of the U.S., as well as promoting the Vietnam-U.S. cooperative relationship.

    The President also highly appreciated the cooperation between Amanda Nguyen and the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), helping to promote the cooperative relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam.

    Born on Oct. 10, 1991, Nguyen graduated from the Harvard University and interned at NASA in 2013. She then worked at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and then served as deputy White House liaison at the U.S. State Department.

    In November 2014, she founded Rise, a non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of survivors of sexual assault. In 2019, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to fight for the rights of victims of sexual assault.

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  • Samsonite reopens at Hong Kong’s IFC mall with pop-up cafe concept

    Samsonite reopens at Hong Kong’s IFC mall with pop-up cafe concept

    Samsonite has reopened its flagship store at Hong Kong’s IFC Mall with the launch of a limited-time pop-up cafe.

    Running until April 20, the Samsonite Cafe offers visitors a curated space to explore the brand’s sustainability initiatives in a lifestyle-driven setting.

    The cafe aims to complement the newly renovated outlet, which showcases the brand’s first dedicated sustainability-led design.

    As part of the activation, customers can enjoy complimentary coffee by registering as a Samsonite member at the pop-up store, or with any purchase made at the Samsonite IFC Mall store upon registering. Lifetime, Black, Platinum, and Gold Club members are eligible for complimentary coffee without any purchase.

    Constructed using FSC-certified plywood and low-emission gypsum board, the store features display podiums and wall panels made from repurposed luggage shell edges and leftover backpack fabric.

    To further lower its carbon footprint, more than 75 per cent of the renovation waste was sorted for recycling and processed by certified partners.

    The store also incorporates motion-sensor LED lighting and enhanced air quality systems in line with global retail standards.

    “Our inaugural sustainability concept at IFC Mall underscores our commitment to eco-friendly practices,” the company said.

    “This approach exemplifies our belief that sustainability can redefine the retail experience and transform the lifestyle bag and luggage industry.”

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  • China Airlines partners with Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories on new roadmap to develop airline AI applications

    China Airlines partners with Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories on new roadmap to develop airline AI applications

    China Airlines (CAL), a Taiwan-based carrier, has strategically positioned itself for the future by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this month with Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories (CHTTL) to expand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology resources. The two companies will share their respective industry applications and R&D technology to co-develop an integrated AI development and management platform. This strategic move will not only make services more accessible to travelers but also define a new roadmap for AI development in the airline industry.

    As the first airline to form such a partnership with CHTTL, CAL will focus on enhancing the AI service experience and strengthening corporate management of on-premises AI applications. The incorporation of “AI interactive voice response” functionality with customer service chatbots into the CAL website will provide travelers with additional answers to their inquiries, enhancing their overall experience. “Customer conservation analytics” performed by generative AI will analyze and categorize questions in audio files in real time to help customer service staff track common traveler questions with great precision. The data can also be used to improve internal education and training as well as enhance the productivity and quality of customer service.$

    For internal enterprise management, CAL will combine AI “forecasting and early warning applications” with big data to accurately predict the number and weight of luggage on each flight. The information can be used to maximize the utilization of belly cargo space on passenger flights and cargo hold space on freighter flights, which promises savings for the workforce. At the same time, the two companies will co-develop a “Smart Generative AI Platform” that uses machine learning model management and the construction of large language models (LLM) to accelerate the scaling and deployment of AI operations. The platform will also assist businesses with more effective management of on-premises AI applications and shorten model development time.

    Research and development of telecommunications and information-communications technologies have always been the focus of CHTTL. The Labs have played a key role in defining international standards and industrial innovation as well. Current fields of research include the core technologies for broadband networking, mobile networking, AI, and information security. CHTTL has already developed numerous AI applications for enterprise use, including AI customer service chatbots, AI voice assistances, and the customer sentiment analysis platform (DeepVoice). These solutions have been recognized by the Taiwan Excellence Awards, National Brand Yushan Awards, and other top awards, demonstrating the quality and innovation of CHTTL’s work. The latest partnership will lead to new milestones in the use of smart AI technology in the Taiwanese airline industry.

    CAL continues to promote innovative services by incorporating the latest AI applications into its traveler experience and into internal management to boost team productivity. In 2024, CAL became the first Taiwanese carrier to receive the award for Best AI System Application Team at the Customer Service Excellence Awards (CSEA). CAL will continue to track the latest developments in the AI industry and collaborate with leading external organizations to build strategic partnerships that will accelerate AI development and boost international competitiveness through smart airline AI services.

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  • Vietjet launches Singapore-Phu Quoc direct flight route

    Vietjet launches Singapore-Phu Quoc direct flight route

    Party General Secretary To Lam and leaders of Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities witnessed the announcement of Singapore – Phu Quoc direct flight service on Tuesday, as part of his official visit to the city state.

    Starting May 30, Vietnam’s budget carrier Vietjet Air will operate the new route with four weekly flights, connecting Singapore with Vietnam’s largest island. This addition brings the total number of weekly flights between Vietnam and Singapore to 78, catering to an estimated half a million passengers a year.

    It is the fourth direct air service between the two countries, joining existing routes to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang. It is expected to not only boost tourism but also strengthen economic, trade, and cultural cooperation between the two nations.

    Chairwoman of the Vietjet Air Board of Directors Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao stressed that Vietjet is more than just an airline, it drives economic growth, trade, investment, education and cultural exchanges.

    Vietjet Air and its Singaporean partners, handling billions of USD in annual transactions, are deepening collaboration in finance, trade, and innovation to build a sustainable and prosperous future, she said.

    On this occasion, Vietjet Air and Carlyle Aviation Partners signed a US$300 million financing agreement to support the purchase of aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2026. This deal is a pivotal step in Vietjet Air’s plan to acquire more than 400 new aircraft, as part of its fleet expansion strategy.

    Furthermore, Vietjet Air and Satair, an Airbus Group subsidiary, inked a cooperation deal on the use of Integrated Material Services (IMS), a comprehensive material supply solution for Vietjet’s entire fleet of Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft.

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  • Vietjet hikes Singapore-HCMC flight frequency

    Vietjet hikes Singapore-HCMC flight frequency

    Vietjet is set to boost its number of flights between Singapore and HCMC starting March 30.

    There will be three flights a week, up from the current two. There are now 35 flights between the two cities per week.

    The announcement comes with a 50% off sale on eco-class tickets for all Vietjet routes, including those to Hanoi and Da Nang (currently served by one daily flight each).

    Last year Vietjet added 10 aircraft to its fleet, bringing the total to 115. It operated on 170 routes.

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  • Cathay Pacific cancels 90 flights over aircraft engine issue

    Cathay Pacific cancels 90 flights over aircraft engine issue

    Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific Airways has canceled 90 flights this week due to an engine component issue affecting its Airbus A350 fleet.

    The firm initially canceled 48 flights on Tuesday and 20 on Wednesday before axing another 22 from Thursday to Saturday.

    All the flights canceled this week are for regional destinations except for one long-haul flight on Monday, the airline said.

    The canceled flights on Tuesday and Wednesday included routes between Hong Kong and cities such as Sydney, Osaka, Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, and Singapore.

    The airline announced on Tuesday that all affected travelers had been notified and provided with alternative travel options.

    To help passengers adjust their travel plans, Cathay Pacific waived ticket change fees, including charges for rebooking and rerouting.

    The flight cancelations followed a component failure on Monday that led Cathay Pacific to ground and inspect its entire Airbus A350 fleet.

    The inspection found that 15 planes required fuel line repairs, six of which have been fixed and cleared to operate as of Wednesday.

    Cathay Pacific said no further flight cancelations were expected, and all affected aircraft are anticipated to resume operations by Saturday.

    The cancelations have caused confusion and frustration among customers, many of whom had to make last-minute travel rearrangements.

    Lim and his family from Singapore were looking forward to their five-day trip to Hong Kong when their Tuesday flight was delayed and then canceled.

    They were later rebooked on a flight departing 12 hours later than originally scheduled.

    “We’re very disappointed in the way Cathay has handled this issue,” Lim said. “Until now, no one has come to let us know the cause of the delays and cancelations. I had to google media reports to find out what happened. They don’t even have a statement on Facebook.”

    Complaints about canceled flights have also surfaced on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, where users traveling from Hong Kong to Singapore and other cities voiced their frustration over disrupted travel plans.

  • Vietnam Airlines Group eyes record revenues

    Vietnam Airlines Group eyes record revenues

    Vietnam Airlines Group, which operates three airlines, targets record revenues of VND80.89 trillion (US$3.18 billion) this year but expects the profit rate to be less than 1%.

    Its first quarter revenues rose by 25% to VND28.27 trillion.

    Amid high demand, the company expects to see international and domestic passenger numbers rise by 20% and 13%.

    High fuel costs are expected to be a drag on profits. The company disclosed to shareholders that if fuel prices increase by $1 per barrel, its costs rise by VND230 billion a year.

    The economic slowdown is causing international travel to recover at a slow pace, while geopolitical tensions show no signs of abating, it said. Its top market, China, is also seeing an extremely slow recovery.

    Many of its debts start falling due in July, posing a financial burden.

    Vietnam Airlines Group, the parent of Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company, plans to sell its stakes in Tan Son Nhat Cargo Service Company this year for VND1.7 trillion.

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  • Vietravel Airlines reports first profits in 3 years

    Vietravel Airlines reports first profits in 3 years

    Vietravel Airlines has reported a profit of VND10 billion (US$400,128) for the first three months of the year, achieving its first profitable quarter since its inception in 2021.

    As a subsidiary of the tour operator Vietravel, the airline announced first-quarter revenues exceeding VND491 billion, surpassing its initial target by 42%.

    The profits stemmed from increases in domestic airfare prices, which typically reach their peak during the two or three weeks around the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. This year, the holiday period was from February 7 to 14.

    Typically, airfare prices start to decrease gradually after Tet. However, this year, prices have not followed the expected post-holiday downturn and have remained elevated.

    Factors contributing to sustained high prices include rising operational costs and a shortage of aircraft, particularly as numerous airlines have been forced to ground A321 planes, commonly used for domestic flights, for engine maintenance.

    With a modest fleet of just three A321 aircraft, Vietravel Airlines is nevertheless setting ambitious goals, targeting VND1.05 trillion in revenues for the next quarter. The airline is expanding its network with new routes and increasing the frequency of flights both within Vietnam and internationally.

    Currently, Vietravel Airlines operates charter flights to Japan, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Takamatsu and Da Nang with Fukushima, among others.

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  • Vietnam encourages Australian airlines to establish routes to its cities

    Vietnam encourages Australian airlines to establish routes to its cities

    The Vietnamese Government creates favourable conditions for airlines to develop and compete healthily, and encourages Australian carriers to fly to Vietnam, according to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

    This statement was made during a ceremony commemorating 30 years of direct air travel between Vietnam and Australia in Melbourne city on Tuesday morning. The event was part of activities in the Prime Minister’s trip to attend the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit and his official visit to Australia.

    He expressed his hope that Vietnam’s airlines will cooperate and compete fairly, especially in the current context – when the two countries will upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Currently, Vietnamese airlines do not use domestically trained pilots, engineers, and mechanics, so he hoped Australia to support the training of pilots, mechanics, aviation managers.

    He also urged Australian banks, investment funds, and investors to invest indirectly in Vietnamese airlines, saying that the Vietnamese ministries and sectors will strengthen their role in state management, remove difficulties, and proactively support airlines to overcome challenges and promote rapid and sustainable development.

    The PM took the occasion to thank Australia, specifically Australian citizens who choose Vietnamese airlines such as Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, to visit Vietnam, saying that this has contributed to boosting cultural connections and aviation economic development of the two countries.

    Vietnam Airlines has been strengthening cooperation with partners in Australia to develop products and diversify services, thereby continuously bringing benefits to passengers.

    It has paid attention to coordinating with agencies, travel companies and Australian partners to strengthen tourism promotion and promote destinations of both countries.

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  • AirAsia launches new route to Ahmedabad

    AirAsia launches new route to Ahmedabad

    AirAsia is set to launch a new route from Kuala Lumpur to Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City.

    This move, scheduled for 1 May 2024, expands AirAsia’s network and solidifies its presence in South Asia.

    The latest network addition will become the airline’s eleventh route to India and the third new route in 2024 alone.

    Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, has a rich tapestry of history and culture. Home to one of India’s largest cotton textile hubs, serene lakes, and ancient mosques dating back to the 15th century, the city attracts history enthusiasts and travelers alike.

    Its vibrant streets offer some of the world’s best street food, and it stands as a hub for sought-after jewellery markets.

    To celebrate this milestone, AirAsia is extending a special promotional fare. Travel enthusiasts can book flights from Kuala Lumpur to Ahmedabad starting at just RM209 and from Ahmedabad to Kuala Lumpur from only INR7,999.

    This exclusive offer is available for booking until 28 January 2024, with travel valid from 1 May 2024 to 19 March 2025. You can secure seats through the airasia Superapp or the website.

    He highlighted the significance of this expansion, considering the recent Malaysian government initiative for visa-free entry into Malaysia for Indian nationals.

    Lingam shared, “When we launched our very first flight into India in 2008, our vision and mission had always been to enhance affordable connectivity between our two nations.”

  • AirAsia to Open Bali-NTT Domestic Route in December

    AirAsia to Open Bali-NTT Domestic Route in December

    AirAsia airlines will open a new domestic route of Denpasar, Bali-Kupang, NTT beginning on December 16, 2023. The Bali-NTT route will serve three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

    “AirAsia opens the [route] with a special price of Rp1.5 million for one trip,” said Corporate Communication Manager Indonesia of AirAsia, Ageng Wibowo on Friday, November 17, 2023.

    According to Ageng, this new route will create an opportunity for foreign tourists and Kupang residents to travel through Denpasar, Bali, and extend their trips to various domestic and international destinations such as Surabaya, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, and Perth.

    This route also opens Kupang to various sources of foreign tourist markets such as Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

    Kupang is the gateway to all areas in NTT, especially Rote Island, Sabu Island, Timor Island, Alor, Sumba, and Flores. Thus, this route will boost the tourism and economy of the region.

    Additionally, Kupang itself has a promising tourism potential, proven by the number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the province. The diverse social and cultural spheres supported by Kupang’s geographical conditions attracted visitors to the region.

    “Kupang has many tourist attractions consisting of Marine, Nature, Culture, and Historical destinations, such as Oenesu Waterfall, Tablolong Beach, Crystal Cave, and Manikin Beach,” he said.

    AirAsia, Ageng added, is committed to connecting tourists with their chosen cities by offering flight choices to various interesting destinations.

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  • Bamboo Airways set to downsize fleet

    Bamboo Airways set to downsize fleet

    After restructuring its flight network, Bamboo Airways has said it will also reduce the number of aircraft to lower costs.

    An executive at the airline said the restructuring in the past two months included discontinuing unprofitable routes.

    The airline has not yet announced the number or type of aircraft that will be grounded.

    According to German civil aviation database Planespotters, Bamboo Airways currently operates 23 aircraft, seven fewer than last year.

    It plans to seek approval from regulatory authorities to increase the size of its fleet to over 30 in future, though again, no concrete plans have been announced.

    In a recent report to the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said it supports the expansion plan but added the airline needs to ensure it has the financial capacity, human resources, and aviation infrastructure.

    By flying three different aircraft – Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer – that do not allow interoperability, Bamboo Airways has additional costs in terms of hiring pilots, technicians, and training instructors for each of them.

    Many other Vietnamese carriers, such as Vietjet, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines, only fly Airbus aircraft.

    All of Vietnam Airlines’ narrow-body aircraft are from Airbus, while its wide-body ones are a mix of Airbus and Boeing.

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  • Capital A increases its presence in Cambodia

    Capital A increases its presence in Cambodia

    Capital A, the entity behind the AirAsia Aviation Group of airlines, remains committed to a November 2023 launch of AirAsia Cambodia (Phnom Penh). It comes as Capital A steps up its involvement in the Cambodian market and takes a 60% stake in a local ground services company called ADE Cambodia.

    In late 2022, ch-aviation reported that Capital A had set up a joint venture company, AirAsia (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, to facilitate its entry into Cambodia with the AirAsia brand. The start-up is a 51/49 joint venture with the hospitality group Sivilai Asia.

    This week, Capital A announced another joint venture agreement with Sivilai Asia. A September 20 Bursa Malaysia filing said the principal activities of ADE Cambodia will be engineering maintenance services, component and warehouse services, engineering support services, and digital and innovation services to aircraft, including repair and maintenance of aircraft and/or engines, consultancy, and training. Capital A says ADE Cambodia will support its local low-cost carrier.

    “This will create an opportunity for ADE to establish its operation in Cambodia,” the filing reads, noting that ADE will also hunt for business from other airlines flying into the country. “The objective is to optimize utilization of ADE’s assets at maximum capacity to reach utmost productivity […] enabling Capital A to capitalize on cost-saving opportunities and potentially capture surpluses from new revenue streams generated.”

    Capital A is making the USD1.2 million investment via its subsidiary, Asia Digital Engineering Sdn Bhd, a Malaysia-based business principally engaged in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Sivilai Asia is a Cambodia-based incorporated in early 2022. Its core business is providing consulting services to the hospitality industry.

    The Capital A investment, which is funded from internal cash reserves and not subject to approval from Capital A shareholders, is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

  • Prime minister asks ministries to support Bamboo Airways

    Prime minister asks ministries to support Bamboo Airways

    Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked relevant ministries to find solutions to Bamboo Airways’ issues on capital, transfer of shares to new investors, and its fleet expansion.

    The airline has recently faced many difficulties, especially in finance.

    In mid-July, it was rumored Bamboo Airways asked the government for bankruptcy protection, but the private airline denied this.

    In early July, Bamboo Airways sent the prime minister a report on its operation and difficulties.

    Chinh assigned the Ministry of Transport to maintain the airline’s operating conditions to ensure security and safety in civil aviation transport, and the Ministry of Finance to remove difficulties in transferring its shares to new investors.

    He also asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to quickly appraise a proposal allowing Bamboo Airways to increase its fleet to more than 30 aircraft, because the lengthy process would slow down the airline’s recovery and development as well as reduce its business opportunities.

    In addition, he proposed the State Bank of Vietnam work with the airline to remove financial difficulties, facilitating commercial banks’ contribution of capital to the airline.

    The prime minister requested the ministries and the central bank to report the results of their troubleshooting before September 15.

    Vietnam’s aviation industry has been recovering domestically but is still struggling to reclaim its share of the global market.

    In the first six months, the domestic market increased by 8% compared to pre-pandemic levels, but the international market remained 40% lower.

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