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Malaysian budget air carrier Air Asia
has sought permission to fly to Ho Chi Minh City but
the Vietnamese government wants it to fly to northern
destinations rather than the already-crowded sector.
The
Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration said it would
be hard to issue a license to fly from Malaysia to HCMC
since it was already congested.
The
administration told the carrier to begin flights to
the capital Hanoi and other cities, promising to issue
licenses soon if it agreed. Licenses are normally issued
within 30 days if the papers are in order.
But
Air Asia has yet to make up its mind on the offer since
its target is the busy southern economic hub where numerous
Malaysian enterprises are based.
Battle
for skies
The
Vietnamese domestic market is all set for a battle since
Southeast Asian nations have committed to an “Open Skies”
policy from 2008.
Foreign
carriers can look forward to simplified licensing procedures
to operate in Vietnam.
The
country has seen a flurry of low-cost foreign airlines
entering the lucrative market in the last few years.
Singapore’s
Tiger Airways and Thailand’s Thai Air Asia are already
here and are now pursuing expansion plans with new routes
and increased frequencies.
Source:
Sai Gon Giai Phong – Translated by Ha Viet - Thanhniennews |
