Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Jetstar affiliate takes first steps beyond Vietnam

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Jetstar affiliate takes first steps beyond Vietnam

Jetstar Pacific, the Vietnam-based low-cost carrier, is making its first foray into the international market with scheduled services from its Ho Chi Minh City hub to Bangkok and Siem Reap.

The airline, owned partly by the Qantas-owned budget airline Jetstar, will be competing with Thai airlines already operating on the route including Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia.

It will also run against Bangkok Airways on the Ho Chi Minh City-Siem Reap which is due to begin a daily service on the route on Oct 26, using Airbus A319 jet, according to industry sources.

The daily Ho Chi Minh-Bangkok service is set to begin on Oct 31 while the Ho Chi Min-Siem Reap flights, also daily, will start on Nov 3.

These services will initially be operated with a fleet of Boeing 737 jetliners before transitioning to a future fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft.

Jetstar Pacific chief executive Luong Hoai Nam said the launch of Bangkok and Siem Reap services was consistent with the airline's regional expansion, bringing and easier access to international destinations to and from the socialist-ruled country.

The airline also aims to take a price leadership position international markets from Vietnam, by offering the lowest fares on the international markets.

The one-way Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh fare starts from 600 baht, and from $40 between Ho Chi Minh and Siem Reap, excluding surcharges, fees and taxes.

The airline was established in 1991, started operations in April 1991 and has undergone a number of corporate restructurings since then.

As result of the July 2007 ownership change, Jetstar Pacific Airlines Joint Stock Aviation Company (formerly Pacific Airlines Joint Stock Aviation Company) is owned by State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) of Vietnam, Vietnamese businessman Luong Hoai Nam and Qantas of Australia.

Qantas has an 18% share and will increase its share gradually up to 30% in 2010. Qantas owns 100% of Jetstar Airways in Australia and 42.5% of Jetstar Asia Airways in Singapore.

The airline operates five Boeing 737-400s and will lease up to 30 Airbus A320 by 2014 to support its expanding domestic and regional services.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.