Vietjet plans to launch air routes to and from Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh in January 2019, the airline’s managing director Luu Duc Khanh said.

Khanh unveiled this information during a working session with the provincial People’s Committee on Tuesday. He called for assistance from local authorities and the airport’s operator in the first stage of opening these air routes.

The province of Quang Ninh will provide support to the airline in terms of communication, advertisement and locations in which to open ticket agents within the locality, the Voice of Vietnam reported.

In addition, it will also offer travel services from Van Don to Ha Long and free sightseeing tours to a number of tourist attractions for passengers who use the airline.

Capitalised at VND7.5 trillion (nearly US$330 million), Van Don International Airport is the first private one in the country. It will operate under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. It is designed to receive two million passengers and 10,000 tonnes of cargo a year.

Nguyen Duc Long, the committee’s chairman, said the airport has been completed after three years of construction. His province has reported to the Prime Minister and asked for support to quickly deal with legal procedures and open the airport. Quang Ninh authorities and Sun Group are expected to hold an opening ceremony at the end of December. — VNS