China's - Orient Aviation

NEWSPacific Airlines’ re-birth racing aheadWork on bringing Vietnam’s Pacific Airlinesinto the Qantas Airways’ low-cost Jetstarfold is racing ahead with plans to increase thecarrier’s fleet from three to 10 by the end of nextyear, Pacific Airlines’ general director, LuongHoai Nam, has told local media.He was speaking during Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon’sfirst visit to Vietnam since the Australian carrier signed a deal whichwill eventually give it a 30% holding in Pacific Airlines.The local carrier is expected to be rebranded as Jetstar Vietnamand was scheduled to begin operating six weekly flights from Ho ChiMinh City to Singapore by the end of October. It will share operationson the route with Singapore-based Jetstar Asia.Next year, the carrier intends to add flights from Ho Chi MinhCity to Siem Reap and Kuala Lumpur. Destinations planned laterinclude Hong Kong, Seoul and Beijing, as well as cities in Australiaand France, where there are large Vietnamese communities.At the same time, the airline’s domestic network is beingstrengthened by increasing frequency on existing routes and addingnew routes. “Ours is not simply a financial investment, but rather along-term commitment,” said Dixon. “We are supporting PacificAirlines in organising and effectively administrating activities as aPacific Airlines: long-termsupport from Qantas Airwayslow-cost airline. We’re also closely working with them to developnew routes.”In early 2008 Pacific Airlines will send 16 young Vietnamesestudents to Australia to participate in a two-year pilot training course.Pacific Airlines and Jetstar will cooperate on air ticket distributionfrom the first quarter of 2008.To cope with the expansion seven new aircraft – a mix of B737-400s and A320s – will be acquired next year. An order for more newaircraft is expected in the same timeframe. Operated by Jetstar, it isbelieved Pacific Airlines will eventually have an all A320 fleet.Tom Ballantyne40 ORIENT AVIATION NOVEMBER 2007