First Vietnamese all-cargo carrier gets go ahead

THE Vietnamese government has granted a licence for the country’s first private all-cargo airline to start operations next year.

Trai Thien Air Cargo will start flying, first one 737 and then an additional four, in March 2010 and will focus on northeast and southeast Asia, according to James Herron, strategic planning manager of the Trai Thien Group.

The fledgling cargo carrier will be pitting itself against international heavyweights, such as Air France-KLM Cargo, China Airlines Cargo and Korean Air Cargo, and domestic combi carriers, such as Jetstar Pacific, Vasco and Vietnam Airlines.

The company will start with registered capital of VND500 billion (US$28 million).