VietJet Air leases first aircraft from Alafco

Vietnamese start-up budget airline VietJet Air has announced it has leased three Airbus A320 from Kuwait-based aircraft leasing company Aviation Lease & Finance Co (Alafco) and that it will start commercial flights from December 25.

The initial route will be between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with subsequent routes to other destinations in Vietnam and Southeast Asia expected to be launched from the middle of 2012 when the last of the A320s is delivered. The carrier is looking at Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and Korea as future international destinations. It plans to lease or purchase further Airbus A320s on an annual basis between 2012 and 2015.

VietJet Air secured its operating licence in November 2007 but it has only recently formalized its inauguration after four years of negotiating various legal and political obstacles.

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