Vinpearl Air of the private conglomerate Vingroup will begin domestic and international flights from July 2020 with a fleet of six aircraft, according to Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thang.

Thang told Vietnam News Agency’s reporter on August 21 that under the CAAV’s documenton the establishment of Vinpearl Air submitted to the Ministry of Transport, the202.6-million-USD airline will increase the number of its aircraft to 36 by2025, adding six to its fleet each year.

Narrow-body jets Airbus A320 and A321 or Boeing B737, and wide-body aircraftsAirbus A330 and A350 or Boeing 787 will be used on its 62 domestic routes and93 international routes by 2025.

Vinpearl Air is planning to choose Noi Bai as its base airport, with two apronsby 2020.

Thang said the Vinpearl Air project is in line with the Government’s airtransport development policy. However, its fleet by 2025 may surpass themarket’s demand as other airlines have already had plan to expand theiroperation.

He suggested a fleet of 30 aircrafts will be more suitable for Vinpearl Air.

Last year, Vietnamese airlines transported around 70 million passengers, up12.6 percent from 2017, and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo, a year-on-year surgeof 7.2 percent.

Earlier, VinAviation School of the group on August 16 announced it is lookingto enroll 400 learners aged 18-35 for its first pilot class to meet growingdemand for pilots both in the nation and in the world.

Qualified candidates will receive basic training in one of the world’s leadingaviation training centres in the US and Australia, as well as at VinAviationSchool in 26 months.

Graduates will get commercial pilot licenses from the Civil Aviation Authorityof Vietnam (CAAV), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and theAustralian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and will have opportunitiesto work in a professional working environment with attractive incomes.

Vinpearl Air, formerly known asVinAsia Trade Development and Services JSC, was established on April22 with headquarters in Hanoi’s Vinhomes Riverside Long Bien -VNA