Vietnam seeks aviation investment

A view of the Buon Ma Thuot International Airport. Viet Nam is creating a framework to stimulate private investment in the aviation industry. — VNS Photo Viet Thanh

Nguyen Duong, the deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam's (CAAV's) airport management department, made this announcement at the Southeast Asia Airport Expansion Summit in Ha Noi on September 29 .

Duong said the new aviation law, which took effect on July 1, had aimed to promote the roles of private investors.

The booming growth in the aviation market is posing a great demand for better airport infrastructure, requiring greater financing and knowhow from the private sector.

From 2010 to 2014, the domestic aviation sector grew on average 12 per cent per year in terms of passenger traffic, with annual numbers of passengers increasing from 21.07 million to 33.16 million.

In freight, the market posted an average growth rate of 12.67 per cent per year, with annual quantities of cargo rising from some 460,000 tonnes to more than 741,000 tonnes.

Notable growth was also reported during the period at some international airports such as Cam Ranh, which grew at 25.5 per cent per year, Vinh at 34.8 per cent per year, and Phu Quoc at 24.7 per cent per year. Even Tho Xuan, a small airport in central Thanh Hoa Province, witnessed 70.5 per cent growth per year in the last two years.

Duong said these were challenging Viet Nam's airport system, and the number of airports were to be increased from the present 22 to 26 by 2020.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines had changed from a state utility into a joint stock company, and airport businesses would also be privatised "sooner or later", he said.

The CAAV would be no exception, he said, adding that this firm was expected to offer 25 per cent of its equity to the public while retaining a 75 per cent State stake in the future.

The declaration of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market is likely to be signed by December 2015, and is expected to fully liberalise air travel and allow ASEAN airlines to co-operate in the region.

Some airports in the Philippines, Singapore and Hong Kong are tending to promote the public-private partnerships for their future upgrades, he said.

Earlier this year, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and some private businesses asked to buy the operational rights to a terminal at Noi Bai Airport in Ha Noi. The T&T Group, VinGroup and the Sungroup are reportedly eyeing Phu Quoc Airport in the south.

Bentley said that while Southeast Asia was a leader in terms of globalisation of the aviation market, there were obstacles for a partnership between airlines and airports.

On-Block Gmbh General Manager Reinhard Zeiler noted that airline returns are inadequate even in good years, with the average net profit per departing passenger being some $2.56.

"Airports continue to enjoy market power over both airlines and their customers, leading to prices that are higher than they should be and service standards that are lower than they should be," he quoted International Air Transport Association official Tony Tyler as saying./.

Source: VNS