VIETNAM FLIGHT PLAN
Our airport teams up with another overseas airline
AVALON passengers could soon be flying direct to Vietnam with a second international airline poised to touch down at the airport.
The airport’s owners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that could pave the way for flights, freight and even a hotel.
AVALON passengers could soon be flying direct to Vietnam with a second international airline poised to touch down at the airport.
Avalon Airport boss Justin Giddings was in Vietnam yesterday to see airport owner Linfox sign a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with the Sovico Group, owner of low-cost airline Vietjet.
The agreement sets out a number of areas where the airport and Sovico can work together, including on freight, investment, a hotel and passenger flights.
If successful, Vietjet would be the second international carrier to fly from Avalon Airport after AirAsia X started flying twice daily to Kuala Lumpur in December 2018.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison oversaw the new connection while in Vietnam, where he met Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Mr Giddings said the agreement was the result of several months of negotiations.
“Basically it’s an agreement between Linfox Airports, which is effectively Avalon Airport, and the Sovico Group, which owns Vietjet,” he said.
“It’s to work together towards flights but also investment in the airport.
“Our interest is obviously in getting flights to Vietnam for sure and we’ve been talking to them for a number of months.”
Subject to regulatory approval, Avalon flights to Vietnam could take off in the next six to 12 months, Mr Giddings said.
“We’re still working through whether it’s to Ho Chi Minh City, and we are talking about other cities as well as Ho Chi Minh City,” he said.
“If it comes off, it will be huge.
“The reason why the Australian Government has backed us so well is to act as a catalyst for more airlines.
“Vietnam is very popular for Aussies, but there’s also a large Vietnamese community in Australia.”
Mayor Bruce Harwood said the announcement was “fantastic news” for Geelong.
“It just continues our growth and is testimony to the perseverance of Justin Giddings with good support from the Geelong community and government,” Cr Harwood said.
“It just further cements Geelong’s growth into the international market.”
In March 2018, Vietjet signed a MOU with Brisbane Airport, committing to making Queensland’s capital its first Australian long-haul destination. It hoped to launch direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Brisbane this year, but flights are yet to commence.
Vietjet Air launched operations at the end of 2011 and has already become Vietnam’s largest domestic airline.
It operates to 18 domestic ports, and more than 60 international ports, including Bangkok, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Phuket, Singapore, Seoul, and Phuket.