Making waves in the aviation industry, Vietjet, the renowned Vietnamese carrier, recently welcomed its sixth Airbus A330-300 to their fleet. This is in line with the carrier’s proactive approach to meet the anticipated surge in demand during the peak summer travel season and to support their international routes. The introduction of this widebody aircraft just a few months after the induction of its fifth A330 highlights the carrier’s aggressive expansion strategy.
But the question is, why the A330? According to Vietjet, the A330 aircraft offers superior fuel efficiency and performance, contributing to better operational efficiency and facilitating “positive flight experiences at reasonable fares”.
More A330 aircraft will join the Vietjet fleet this year, paving the way for network expansion and the launching of exciting new routes. The A330-300 aircraft in Vietjet’s collection boasts a total of 377 seats – 12 plush business class seats arranged in a two-two-two layout, and 365 economy seats configured in a three-three-three layout.
New Routes on the Cards
Vietjet’s international network is impressively diverse, encompassing destinations across Australia, India, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan. On the cusp of further growth, the airline recently unveiled plans for two additional routes. These will link Hanoi to Hiroshima in Japan and Ho Chi Minh City to Kochi in India, expanding their reach and connectivity.
The Hanoi to Hiroshima route, scheduled to begin operations on July 19th, will operate twice weekly, with an average flight time of 4 hours and 30 minutes. The Ho Chi Minh City to Kochi route will follow suit, launching on August 12th, offering services four times a week.
Operational Goals for 2023
2023 is set to be a banner year for Vietjet. The airline has set ambitious goals, including enhancing its modern fleet of A330s and Airbus A321s for better operational efficiencies and expanding it from 78 to 87 aircraft. Their sights are also set on boosting their passenger count by a whopping 25% this year.
Currently holding a 40% market share in Vietnam’s domestic market, Vietjet plans to increase this further by catering to an additional five million passengers this year. Three new Airbus A321neo aircraft have already been introduced to its fleet this month, and another three A330s are expected later this year.
It doesn’t end here; Vietjet is also awaiting a significant number of narrowbody aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. The pending orders include 91 Airbus A321neos, 20 Airbus A321XLRs, 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and 100 higher-capacity Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft.
Vietjet’s growth trajectory is indeed a testament to the airline’s dedication to maintaining modernity and efficiency in its operations. With the addition of the Airbus A330-300 to its fleet, the introduction of new routes, and the ambition to grow its passenger capacity, Vietjet is well on its way to setting new industry standards. As we watch the unfolding of this dynamic expansion strategy, one can only anticipate what other innovative moves Vietjet will make in the future.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
