VietJet Air is an airline based in Vietnam that was founded in 2011 and began operations in 2012. It is the first privately owned airline in Vietnam, and the second-largest airline in the country after Vietnam Airlines. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet of A320 and A321 aircraft and serves over 60 destinations in 13 countries.
The history of VietJet Air began in 2007, when the company was founded by Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, a Vietnamese entrepreneur. Thao had a vision to create an airline that would serve the Vietnamese people and make air travel accessible to more people around the country. She was able to secure a loan from the Vietnamese government and, in November 2011, the airline was officially established.
The first route flown by the airline was between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in December 2012. Over the next few years, the airline expanded rapidly and added more aircraft to its fleet. In 2014, the airline launched its first international route to Bangkok, Thailand. This was followed by more international destinations in the following years, including Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
The fleet of VietJet Air currently consists of A320 and A321 aircraft. The airline operates a total of 64 aircraft, including 39 Airbus A320s, 21 Airbus A321s, and 4 ATR 72-500s. The airline has also announced plans to acquire more aircraft to expand its fleet and routes.
The airline has also seen its fair share of milestones and achievements over the years. In 2014, the airline became the first Vietnamese airline to receive the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification. This certification is a global recognition of an airline’s safety and operational standards. In 2018, the airline carried over 22 million passengers and became the first Vietnamese airline to be listed on the stock exchange.
VietJet Air has had its share of negative incidents as well. In 2017, the airline was involved in a federal investigation by the US Department of Transportation for alleged violations of the US Open Skies agreements. The investigation was eventually closed without any fines or penalties.
In 2018, the airline was involved in another incident when one of its aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Vietnam. The incident was caused by a malfunction in the aircraft’s engine and no passengers were injured in the incident.
Overall, VietJet Air has seen significant growth and success over the past decade. The airline has expanded its fleet and routes, achieved IATA certification, and become the first Vietnamese airline to be listed on the stock exchange. The airline has also had its share of negative incidents, but has been able to navigate these challenges and continue to serve its customers.
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