Nguyen Quoc Phuong (right) has been appointed General Director of Jetstar Pacific Airline for its five-year strategic development between 2016-20. — Photo Jetstar Pacific

Jetstar Pacific Airline has appointed Nguyen Quoc Phuong as new General Director for its five-year strategic development between 2016-20.

The airline said in a statement on December 9 that Phuong, formerly of national flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines’ European Zone Office, will replace former general manager, Le Hong Ha to take the helm from December.

Jetstar Pacific said Ha will completely take over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Phuong said the airline will target safe flights and friendly service for the next five-year term, in close co-operation with Viet Nam Airlines and Qantas Airways.

Jetstar Pacific, a member company of the Jetstar Group – comprising Jetstar Asia (Singapore), Jetstar Japan (Japan) and Jetstar Airways in Australia and New Zealand – operates 4,200 weekly return flights to 80 destinations in 17 countries across the world.

It’s also the first budget airline in Viet Nam operating 37 domestic and international routes from Viet Nam to the rest of the world.

Recently, the two major shareholders of the airline, Vietnam Airlines (70 per cent share) and the Qantas Group (30 per cent), committed to the long-term development and success of Jetstar Pacific. The two shareholders expect Jetstar Pacific to have a fleet of up to 30 aircraft by 2020.

In July 2016, the low-cost airline inked a contract to buy 10 Airbus A320 CEO Sharklets from Airbus as part of the airline’s development plan for 2016-20.

Last year, Jetstar Pacific signed a three-year comprehensive engine maintenance agreement with Lufthansa Technik AG.

Viet Nam’s Industry and Trade Bank, Vietinbank, agreed to provide a loan worth US$117 million for Jetstar to buy 10 Airbus 320 CEO aircraft following a co-operation programme inked in 2015. — VNS