Flying High With Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

If one were to take the time to really ponder about the history of aviation, you would probably come to the realisation that humans only discovered how to fly relatively recently.

- Jordan Low

Truly efficient flight was developed by humans in just under a century ago. Yes, some would say 100 years is a long time when you compare that to the human lifespan; but when you consider that humans have been enamoured by the idea of flight for over two thousand years, it really puts things into perspective.

Till this day, jet aircraft remain the pinnacle of fast travel. Aircraft have only gotten faster, more efficient and cheaper to utilise. The average tourist today is expected to spend more during their vacation overseas in a week than they are likely to spend on a flight ticket (return flight included). Despite this, some entrepreneurial people are finding ways to lower the costs of flights even further, granting even more people the ability to travel far and wide.

In this edition of SME, we will be taking a look at one of these successful budget airlines by the name of VietJet Air and the woman who helped elevate it to the forefront of Vietnam’s budget travel industry: Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

ROUGH START

Like all start-ups, VietJet Air did not experience the smoothest of beginnings. Some would say that it struggled even more than usual compared to other new businesses. Initially intending to commence operations in late 2008. A series of delays caused the launch date to be repeatedly pushed back.

Airline officials have given several different reasons as to why the launch was delayed so many times before. These included increases in fuel prices and other financial problems. The state-controlled Vietnam News Agency would later seemingly confirm these troubles, stating that the airline's four-year delay in take-off was due to the global economic crisis; referring to the late 2000’s global economic-financial downturn.