Duong Tri Thanh, Vietnam Airlines CEO, told a forum Wednesday continued delays at Tan Son Nhat could drag down flight quality and hamper economic growth. The route itself ranked as sixth busiest domestic route in the world for 2019, up one spot from last year. Le Hong Ha, deputy general director of the flag carrier, said Tan Son Nhat has recorded low punctuality due to overload, with airlines forced to adjust flight times that cause take-off delays up to 15 minutes. Lai Xuan Thanh, chairman of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, said this year, foreign airlines have struggled to find berths at Tan Son Nhat. The airport could only provide 2-3 percent more slots this year, meaning passenger growth is capped at 5 percent year-on-year, he added. However, the country is allowing operation of new airlines despite the overload. Private carrier Bamboo Airways launched its first flights earlier this year, while three more airlines are awaiting licensing. Dinh Viet Thang, head of the … [Read more...] about Hanoi-Saigon flight time climbs 5 mins a month
9 month old growth spurt symptoms
Safety officer shortage roadblock to aviation growth
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) might have to limit fleet expansion among domestic airlines due to the lack flight safety officers, Vo Huy Cuong, CAAV deputy head, said at a recent forum. For every 10 new aircraft, CAAV needs two more flight safety officers. However, current regulations allow it to recruit only one for every two retired officers, he said. As flight safety officers are required to be former pilots, CAAV has to hire them from local airlines, but due to limited budget, cannot pay them the VND120-300 million ($5,200-12,900) equivalent of their former monthly salary, it was added. This means pilots tend to remain at local airlines for higher pay rather than work for the government. In the past two years, CAAV has failed to pay Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Jetstar Pacific when hiring their pilots, Cuong explained. With CAAV also short on flight managers and security officers, he proposed the government provides more incentives to attract staff. In October, … [Read more...] about Safety officer shortage roadblock to aviation growth
Hanoi leads FDI injection in first three quarters
A corner of the Old Quarter walking street in downtown Hanoi is seen from above. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi led Vietnam in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow in the first nine months of 2018 with more than 6.26 billion USD, a 5.4-fold rise from the same period last year, according to a local official. Some 162.7 trillion VND (over 6.95 billion USD) in non-state investment was injected into 70 projects in the capital, with local investment for development estimated at 219.44 trillion VND (9.38 billion USD), up 10.3 percent, Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Manh Quyen told the 15th meeting of Hanoi’s 16th Party Committee on October 1. The meeting, chaired by Secretary of the city’s Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, was held to review socio-economic development in the first three quarters of the year and tasks for the remaining months. The nine-month Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) rose by 7.17 percent as … [Read more...] about Hanoi leads FDI injection in first three quarters
Competition rising in VN ice cream market
Ice cream is also a market where local and foreign brands are battling it out for market share. The Kido Group, formerly Kinh Do, posted its highest revenue growth for three years in 2018 after selling its snacks business. The new strategy - fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) including cooking oil, instant noodles, and frozen foods - lay behind the growth. When penetrating into new markets, the group defined its priorities as market dominance and testing as well as developing its ice cream category, with the aim of remaining the market leader despite the increasing competition and slowing growth in FMCG. Less-than-expected growth Kido Foods, which owns ice cream and other frozen food brands, holds a 40 per cent market share and has a huge distribution network of up to 70,000 points throughout the country. Ice cream contributes up to 80 per cent of its total revenue, but revenue growth from ice cream fell 12.3 per cent last year compared to 2017. Promotional campaigns and declining … [Read more...] about Competition rising in VN ice cream market
New president vows to put Argentines before debt repayments
Argentina's new President Alberto Fernandez flashes the victory sign during the inauguration ceremony at Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. —AFP/VNA Photo BUENOS AIRES — Centre-leftist Alberto Fernandez vowed to put his people first ahead of debt repayments after he was sworn in as Argentina's president on Tuesday to singing and applause from lawmakers and supporters. After taking over from the market-friendly Mauricio Macri, Fernandez sent a message to the International Monetary Fund, saying "it's impossible to pay external debt without growth." Fernandez, whose vice president is controversial former leader Cristina Kirchner, will preside over a country beset by recession, high inflation, rising unemployment and poverty. While the South American country wants to pay back its debt, it doesn't have "the means to do so," he said, promising to deal with Argentina's social emergency. Fernandez was swept to power in large part due to a public backlash over … [Read more...] about New president vows to put Argentines before debt repayments