Pacific Airlines must resume operations ASAP: aviation authority

Pacific Airlines, which had to return all of its jets two days ago due to large debts, must guarantee the rights of its customers who had bought tickets in advance, the CAAV said in a statement.

It must refund customers whose flights have been cancelled, or who no longer want to use its services, without any additional charges.

Pacific Airlines needs to restructure its fleet quickly and resume operations as soon as possible. It needs to make a report of the restructuring plan to the CAAV before March 22.

The airline needs to return its unused flight slots at airports.

Pacific Airlines announced on March 18 that it would resume flights soon.

Customers will receive notifications of new flights, or their flights will be transferred to flights of its parent company Vietnam Airlines.

Pacific Airlines plans to lease three jets from Vietnam Airlines, just enough to meet the minimum requirement for an airline to keep its license.

Pacific Airlines, established in 1991 as a low-cost air carrier, has faced numerous challenges in recent years.

It made profits of tens of billions of dong in 2018-19 but suffered heavily when the pandemic hit.

In 2022, the airline incurred a loss of nearly VND2.1 trillion (US$84.9 million).

Since Australian airline Qantas sold its stake in Pacific Airlines in 2022, Vietnam Airlines has owned 98.8% of the company.

It has since been seeking new investors for the budget airline and has attracted plenty of attention.