The head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV), Lại Xuân Thanh, denied yesterday that his agency had rejected an operating application from Việt Bamboo Airways Company. — Photo baogiaothong

HÀ NỘI — The head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV), Lại Xuân Thanh, denied yesterday that his agency had rejected an operating application from Việt Bamboo Airways Company.

Thanh said media reports on the matter were incorrect and the licence request by the company, a newly established subsidiary of the FLC Group, is under consideration.

Earlier this month, Đặng Tất Thắng, FLC Group’s deputy general director cum general director of the Việt Bamboo Airways Company, submitted the application with charter capital of VNĐ700 billion (US$31.2 million). The application included plans for human resources, labour contracts, operation regulations and agreements on aircraft leasing.

Việt Bamboo Airways said it signed agreements to lease seven Airbus A320 for the launch of the airways scheduled by the end of 2018. It also submitted information on business plans, development strategies, market demand and trends, competitive level.

According to the current regulations, companies granted aviation licences must have at least three owned or leased aircraft in their first five years of operation.

The CAAV will report to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) on the assessment results within 30 working days. The ministry would submit the report to the Prime Minister for approval within the next 15 days. The final decision on the licence will be issued within 10 days of receiving the report by the Prime Minister Office and the MoT will act according to this decision in a maximum of five days since its issuance.

Bamboo Airways’ representative said it would focus on direct services connecting international markets with emerging tourist destinations in Việt Nam, instead of major urban areas where the aviation infrastructure is already overloaded.

He added that priority would be given to localities where FLC has built major tourist complexes, including Quảng Ninh and Hải Phòng in the north, Thanh Hóa and Quy Nhơn (Bình Định Province) in the central region, and Nha Trang (Khánh Hòa Province) and Phú Quốc (Kiên Giang Province) in the south.

The local market has three airlines waiting for licences or adjustment of their licences to expand operations, including Hải Âu, Việt Bamboo Airlines and Vietstar Air. — VNS