Jetstar Pacific

New LCC VietJet closing in on double-digit market share in fast growing Vietnamese domestic market

VietJet Air, an LCC that launched operations in Vietnam in Dec-2011, is expanding its schedule and in May-2012 will capture an estimated 9% of the domestic market. The growth honeymoon however will soon slow down and become competitive as Jetstar Pacific, now the LCC of Vietnam Airlines, plans to expand its fleet later this year. Jetstar Pacific currently only operates five Boeing 737-400s and two Airbus A320s but will expand to an all-A320 fleet of 15 within a "few" years, possibly placing it on par with the 15 aircraft VietJet plans to have by the end of 2014.

VietJet will use some of its A320s on international routes, possibly starting late this year, but aims to capture about 20% of the domestic Vietnamese market. VietJet currently has a fleet of three A320s although its current schedule – three roundtrips between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh – could easily be operated with just one aircraft. VietJet's additional routes will fully or nearly fully utilise its current available capacity, allowing it to increase its market share from 3% to 9%.

Jetstar Pacific to become Vietnam Airlines’ low-cost carrier in salutary move to both

The nascent and, at times, challenging Vietnamese market will undergo a positive structural shift following Vietnam Airlines taking over a majority 70% shareholding in Jetstar Pacific, the Qantas Group’s Ho Chi Minh-based low-cost subsidiary. Qantas at the same time is increasing its share in the carrier, which was previously majority owned by the Vietnamese State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), from 27% to 30%. Jetstar Pacific is expected to become Vietnam Airlines’ only LCC brand/subsidiary, replicating in Vietnam the Qantas-Jetstar dual brand strategy pioneered in Australia and the new dual brand strategy at Japan Airlines – which also has turned to Jetstar to launch an LCC brand/subsidiary.

Vietnam Airlines had been planning to launch its own LCC in 2014, but is now expected to instead piggyback on the established LCC Jetstar Pacific and be able to grow its presence in the budget sector in a faster time frame. The Qantas Group will contribute AUD7.5 million (USD8 million) as part of a wider AUD25 million (USD26.7 million) capital injection at Jetstar Pacific. The capital will be used in part to accelerate Jetstar Pacific’s long-delayed fleet renewal programme. The carrier's four remaining ageing Boeing 737-400s will finally be replaced with A320s this year and its A320 fleet, which now stands at only two aircraft, is expected to grow to 15 aircraft within the next few years.

Outlook of Jetstar Pacific uncertain with possible Vietnam Airlines stake

The future of Jetstar Pacific, the Vietnamese low-cost subsidiary of the Qantas Group, is uncertain following various reports state-owned Vietnam Airlines may takeover the 70% local shareholding from other state-owned companies, Saigontourist and the State Capital Investment Corporation. Vietnam Airlines already has dealings with the Qantas Group by way of a codeshare on flights between Australia and Vietnam.

While the transfer, if it proceeds in the medium- or long-term, may appear to be a paperwork exercise, it could change Vietnam's emerging low-cost carrier market, which at 18.6% has one of the lowest domestic penetration rates in Asia and the world. It is an evolving story we have been following, and one that shifted when Vietnam Airlines announced its intention to launch its own LCC unit by 2014, as we reported last month.

Vietnam’s LCC market poised for explosive growth as VietJet AirAsia launches and Jetstar expands

The Vietnamese aviation market is poised for significant low-cost carrier growth as a new AirAsia affiliate launches services at the end of this year and the country’s first LCC, Jetstar Pacific, plans to finally implement long-delayed expansion plans. Meanwhile flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is preparing to launch its own LCC subsidiary or unit by 2014. Three LCCs may seem like too many for a market which last year consisted of only about 20 million passengers, but is reasonable when considering the rapid economic growth in the country and the small size of its LCC sector compared to other ASEAN countries.

Jetstar's new North Asia focus leaves room for Qantas Singapore expansion to Europe and India

Jetstar is planning to expand its Singapore-based fleet by 50% over the next six months as the low-cost carrier group looks to North Asia for the next phase of its dramatic expansion. As the largest low-cost airline group in the Asia-Pacific region continues to expand at a rate of about 20% per annum, additional capacity will not be directed west towards South Asia, the Middle East or Europe but primarily to North Asia, where Jetstar sees the most opportunities given North Asia’s very low LCC penetration rate. This strategy could signal growth for the Qantas brand in South Asia and Europe as the group looks at potentially announcing next month the launch of a new Singapore-based full-service carrier.

Qantas profits quadruple despite A380 impact

Qantas Group posted a four-fold increase in half-year net profits to AUD241 million (USD240.6 million). Underlying profit before tax rose 56% to AUD417 million as revenues increased 10% to AUD7.59 billion, despite the Nov-2010 mid-air engine explosion which grounded the carrier’s A380 fleet for two months and presented “significant operational challenges” for the carrier. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce added he expects underlying profit will be “materially higher” in the full year.