Vietravel Airlines
A Vietnamese passenger airline established by Vietravel and later backed by T&T Group, operating scheduled and charter services from its Hue base.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Vietravel Airlines is the brand of Viet Nam Travel Airlines JSC, a Vietnamese passenger airline associated with the travel and tourism group Vietravel. The carrier was conceived as a way to connect Vietravel’s tourism business with its own air transport operation and was registered in Hue, in central Vietnam. Although the project was proposed in 2018, formal establishment was approved by Vietnam’s prime minister on April 3, 2020. The airline received an operating licence from the Ministry of Transport on October 29, 2020, and obtained its Aircraft Operator Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam on December 24, 2020. The airline received its first Airbus A321 in December 2020. It carried out an inaugural flight on December 26, 2020, linking Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. The carrier then began selling scheduled tickets for the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route in January 2021 and announced charter services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to tourism destinations including Khanh Hoa, Quy Nhon and Phu Quoc. These early services reflected a business model combining scheduled domestic passenger transport with charter flying connected to holiday travel. Vietravel Airlines entered the Vietnamese market as the country’s sixth airline after Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Jetstar Pacific, VASCO and Bamboo Airways. Its initial network focused on major Vietnamese cities and leisure destinations, with the airline subsequently operating or developing services to more than ten destinations in Vietnam. The carrier’s market proposition has generally been associated with tourism-oriented, value-conscious air travel rather than with a premium full-service model. Its fleet and route structure have centered on the Airbus A321, a narrow-body aircraft suitable for dense domestic sectors and regional routes. The company’s ownership structure changed materially during the 2024 period. T&T Group became the airline’s strategic shareholder and was reported as holding as much as 75 percent of the company’s shares. The investment was accompanied by expansion plans, potentially giving Vietravel Airlines access to a broader corporate group and additional capital for fleet, network and market development. In late 2025, Vietravel confirmed that it planned to completely withdraw from the airline it had founded. Reports also discussed a possible AirAsia involvement, although any such development was subject to Vietnamese regulatory requirements and was not established as a completed transaction in the supplied material. Vietravel Airlines remains an active Vietnamese airline in the supplied reference material. Its identity continues to be shaped by three factors: its origin in a travel company, its Hue registration and operating base, and its attempt to expand beyond an initial domestic and tourism-focused network. The airline’s long-term position depends on the execution of its expansion plans, ownership transition, regulatory approvals, fleet availability and the competitive environment created by Vietnam’s larger established carriers and other low-cost operators.
History
The Vietravel Airlines project emerged from Vietravel’s tourism business and was proposed in early 2018. The concept was to establish a Vietnamese airline that could support the group’s travel activities while also serving the broader domestic passenger market. Project documentation was submitted to Vietnamese authorities for review. On April 3, 2020, Vietnam’s prime minister approved the airline’s establishment, making the project an authorized aviation venture during a period when the country’s commercial aviation sector was already highly competitive. The airline was registered in Hue, central Vietnam, and operated under the corporate name Viet Nam Travel Airlines JSC. The Ministry of Transport issued its operating licence on October 29, 2020. Vietravel Airlines then completed the certification process required to begin commercial operations, receiving its Aircraft Operator Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam on December 24, 2020. The carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A321 on December 5, 2020, establishing the initial basis for its fleet and route plans. Vietravel Airlines launched its maiden flight on December 26, 2020, with service between Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. In January 2021, the airline announced charter routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Khanh Hoa, Quy Nhon and Phu Quoc. It also began selling tickets for a scheduled Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City service on January 19, 2021. The combination of trunk routes and charter flights reflected the company’s connection to Vietravel’s tourism operations. Rather than relying solely on business travel or a broad international network, the early operating model emphasized domestic connectivity and holiday destinations. The airline became Vietnam’s sixth carrier after Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Jetstar Pacific, VASCO and Bamboo Airways. Its subsequent network included, or was planned to include, more than ten destinations in Vietnam. The Airbus A321 served as the principal aircraft type identified in the available material, providing capacity for busy domestic routes and the possibility of regional international operations. The carrier’s commercial identity developed around accessible passenger transport and tourism-related flying, placing it close to the value and low-cost segment while retaining a specific connection to package travel and leisure demand. Ownership became a central issue in the airline’s later development. In late 2024, T&T Group became a strategic shareholder and was reported to hold as much as 75 percent of Vietravel Airlines. The new shareholder outlined expansion ambitions for the carrier, potentially changing the airline’s access to capital, corporate support and future network planning. The change also reduced the practical importance of Vietravel as the airline’s sole controlling backer, even though Vietravel remained historically important as the company’s founder. In late 2025, Vietravel confirmed that it intended to withdraw completely from Vietravel Airlines. Possible AirAsia participation was discussed in connection with the ownership transition, but the supplied material indicates that regulatory obstacles remained and does not establish a completed transaction. As a result, the airline’s ownership and strategic direction were in transition in the latest reference material. Vietravel Airlines nevertheless remained an active Vietnamese passenger airline, with its future depending on regulatory clearance, shareholder decisions, fleet planning and the ability to compete in Vietnam’s domestic and regional markets.
- 2025
Vietravel plans ownership exit
[1]Vietravel confirmed plans to withdraw completely from the airline, while possible AirAsia participation remained subject to regulatory considerations.
- 2024
T&T Group becomes strategic shareholder
[1]T&T Group became the airline’s major strategic shareholder and announced expansion ambitions.
- 2021
Scheduled ticket sales begin
[1]The airline began selling tickets for scheduled Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City flights on January 19.
- 2020
Establishment approved
[1]Vietnam’s prime minister approved the establishment of Vietravel Airlines on April 3.
- 2020
Operating licence granted
[1]The Ministry of Transport issued the airline’s operating licence on October 29.
- 2020
First Airbus A321 received
[1]The airline received its first Airbus A321 on December 5.
- 2020
Aircraft Operator Certificate issued
[1]The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam issued the carrier’s Aircraft Operator Certificate on December 24.
- 2020
Maiden flight
[1]Vietravel Airlines operated its inaugural Hanoi–Hue–Ho Chi Minh City flight on December 26.
- 2018
Airline project proposed
[1]Vietravel’s airline project was proposed and supporting documentation was submitted to Vietnamese authorities for review.
Products and positioning
Value-oriented, tourism-focused passenger airline with scheduled domestic and charter operations
Passenger air transport · 2021
Scheduled domestic passenger services
Vietravel Airlines operates scheduled passenger services within Vietnam. Its initial network included the major Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City market and connections involving Hue, the airline’s registered home city. The domestic network is designed to serve both everyday intercity travel and demand generated by Vietnam’s tourism sector.
Charter aviation · 2021
Charter passenger flights
Charter operations form part of the airline’s tourism-linked offering. Early announced charter routes connected Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with destinations such as Khanh Hoa, Quy Nhon and Phu Quoc, allowing the airline to support holiday travel and organized tourism programs alongside scheduled flying.
Aircraft-based passenger service · 2020
Airbus A321 operations
The Airbus A321 was the aircraft type associated with the carrier’s initial fleet. Its narrow-body configuration is suited to high-demand domestic sectors and can also support selected regional routes, making it compatible with Vietravel Airlines’ plans to expand beyond its initial Vietnamese network.
Brand decisions
2025
Plan Vietravel’s complete withdrawalM&ABackground
Following the arrival of T&T Group as a major shareholder, Vietravel confirmed that it planned to leave the airline it had founded.
Action taken
Vietravel announced an intention to withdraw completely; possible AirAsia involvement was discussed but remained subject to regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The airline entered an ownership-transition phase, with its ultimate strategic direction and any prospective new investor requiring further confirmation.
2024
Bring in T&T Group as strategic shareholderM&ABackground
The airline required a broader ownership and investment base to support its expansion ambitions.
Action taken
T&T Group became the major strategic shareholder, with reports indicating a potential holding of up to 75 percent.
Aftermath
The ownership structure shifted away from Vietravel’s original controlling role and the new shareholder outlined plans for airline expansion.
2021
Launch scheduled domestic servicesProduct launchBackground
After receiving its operating approvals and Aircraft Operator Certificate, the airline needed to move from charter and inaugural flying into regular commercial service.
Action taken
Vietravel Airlines began selling scheduled tickets for the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route and operated its initial domestic network.
Aftermath
The airline established a regular passenger presence on Vietnam’s principal domestic air corridor while continuing to develop tourism-oriented routes.
2020
Establish a tourism-linked Vietnamese airlineStrategyBackground
Vietravel proposed an airline project to complement its travel and tourism activities and provide passenger connectivity in Vietnam.
Action taken
The project was submitted for review, approved by the prime minister, and developed into Vietravel Airlines.
Aftermath
The carrier became Vietnam’s sixth airline and began domestic scheduled and charter operations.
Recent events
Vietravel Airlines offers 50,000 promotional tickets from zero dong[3]
Reported:
Vietravel Airlines offered 50,000 promotional tickets from zero dong, excluding taxes and fees, through its website from January 19 to January 25 or until sold out.
Vietravel Airlines begins selling commercial-flight tickets[3]
Reported:
Vietravel Airlines began selling tickets for commercial flights on January 19. Its first commercial flight was reported as expected to operate on January 25.
Sources3 sources
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