VietJetAir to become first Vietnamese airline with Sharklet-equipped A320 aircraft

(Ho Chi Minh City, April 22 2013) – VietJetAir today signed an agreement with AWAS, one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies, to lease three brand-new Sharklet-equipped A320 aircraft. The move will make VietJetAir the first airline in Vietnam to operate this new fuel-saving wing tip device on an aircraft.

Launched in 2012, Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. Developed as an option for newly-built A320 aircraft, they allow operators to reduce fuel emissions by up to four percent over longer sectors and reduce approximately 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions per aircraft per year. Sharklets offer operators the flexibility of either adding a range of 100 nautical miles or an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

Pritam Singh, Deputy General Director of VietJetAir, said: “VietJetAir is very pleased to ink a deal with AWAS for the lease of these three new A320 Sharklet aircraft that will now join our growing fleet. We have proved successful as a new generation airline that is dedicated to offering quality passenger-oriented services and lower cost options for domestic and regional air travel. We look forward to opening up new tourist and business opportunities across Vietnam with the backing of the world’s finest aviation service operators, such as AWAS.”

Ray Sisson, President & CEO AWAS said, “The people of AWAS are very proud today to add VietJetAir as a new customer. This airline’s continued investment in expanding and modernizing its fleet to offer a high-quality LCC model to their customers has met with strong success. We pride ourselves on being able to understand an airline’s unique business model and plans for growth. We worked with VietJetAir to offer aircraft at the right time, and with the right specifications to meet its needs, to help fuel further growth.”

VietJetAir is currently operating 300 flights a week (all operated by brand new Airbus A320 aircraft). The carrier’s highly affordable flights have helped the airline rapidly expand its domestic network, which will soon cover 11 destinations domestically. It also has one international route connecting Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City and will launch a Hanoi – Bangkok route in early June, 2013.

These new Sharklet-equipped A320 aircraft will assist VietJetAir with their plans to expand into ASEAN and northern Asia to regional destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Busan, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei.

About VietJetAir

Since launching operations in late 2011, VietJetAir has carried more than one million passengers. The airline plans to expand its fleet to include 20 Airbus aircraft by 2015. Last year VietJetAir was declared The Friendliest Airline and The Best Airline for Promotion Deals by Vietnamese consumers according to the market research report Trust & Consume 2012. The airline was also shortlisted at the annual Budgie$ & Travel Awards 2012 in the category “TOP 5 Best New Route Launches.” For further information, please visit www.vietjetair.com.

About AWAS

AWAS is one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies. Its team of industry professionals serves every major and developing commercial aviation market around the globe from the company’s Dublin headquarters and offices in New York, Miami, and Singapore.

AWAS owns a portfolio of more than 240 modern aircraft with 70+ aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing including a number of next generation aircraft. The aircraft portfolio is on lease to over 90 airline customers in 46 countries. The AWAS fleet features a full range of the most popular aircraft types, which includes both narrow-bodied and wide-body aircraft.