Vietnam’s aviation market has seen a robust development in the recent decade. This development can be attributed to Vietnam’s strong economic growth, a growing tourism industry and an increasing middle class population. Additionally, low-cost airlines have emerged in recent years to make air travel more affordable. 

Due to the quick recovery after the pandemic, this market is now attracting foreign newcomers to do business again. In today’s article, Viettonkin will provide you with up-to-date information related to setting up an air transport company in Vietnam. 

Vietnam’s aviation is a promising market in recent years

The aviation industry has garnered much interest among investors during the past 5 years. Sectors that have drawn the most attention are airport construction, airlines, and aviation services. In 2019, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Vietnam was the world’s seventh fastest-growing aviation market.  

At present, Vietnam has 22 airports, including 12 international airports and 10 domestic one. Vietnam has made investing in airport infrastructure a top priority. The Government set a goal to construct 6 new airports and upgrade most tourism hub airports by 2030, with a total investment of approximately $17.68 billion.

This market was on the rise and the growth attracted numerous start-up airlines. Several foreign new carriers were set up. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the aviation industry to freeze in the past 2 years. 

After the pandemic, the aviation market in Vietnam is now vibrant again. Vietnam is the world’s fastest recovering domestic aviation market, according to IATA. In the first 6 months of 2022, the market saw a growth rate of 123% compared to the same period of 2019. Experts said this year the total number of passengers would likely reach 87.8 million, up 190% compared to 2021.

Conditions to set up an air transport business in Vietnam

In general, air transportation means the transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo, parcels and mail by air. According to Law on Investment 2014, air transport business is a conditional business, so that enterprises must have a license when setting up their business.

The Law on Civil Aviation of Vietnam 2006 (amended in 2014) stipulates conditions for granting air transportation business license, as followed:

• Enterprise has a Business Registration Certificate indicating that its main scope of business is air transportation;
• It has a plan of acquiring aircraft;
• It has an appropriate organizational structure and personnel who are suitably certified to ensure the operation of aircraft and air transportation business;  
•  It has sufficient capital as specified by the Government;
• It has a business plan and strategy for the development of air transport products in line with the market’s demands and the civil aviation industry planning
•  It has a principal office and place of business in Viet Nam.

In addition to these above conditions, a foreign-invested enterprise shall be granted with air transport business permission if it meets the following conditions:

• The ratio of foreign-invested capital is in conformity with the stipulations by the Government;
• Legal representative of the foreign-invested enterprise shall be a Vietnamese national and foreign nationals shall not account for more than one third of the management machinery.
• The air transportation business permission shall be granted by the Minister of Transport upon the approval of the Prime Minister.
• An enterprise applying for air transportation business permission shall pay fees.
• The Government shall specify specific conditions, procedures, and formalities for granting the air transportation business permission.

The most noteworthy point is the conditions regarding the ratio of capital to start an air transport business in Vietnam. To attract more foreign newcomers, the Government has amended the regulation several times in recent years.

Relaxed requirements regarding charter capital 

The latest regulation is Decree 89/2019/ND-CP coming into force on January 1, 2020. By issuing Decree 89, the Government amended and supplemented some articles of Decree 92 in 2016 on conditional business lines or activities in the civil aviation industry. They aim to create favorable conditions for enterprises to set up airlines and attract foreign investment.

Here are the key amendments that can benefit enterprises:

It can be seen that the Government has significantly reduced the amount of charter capital and eliminated the capital gap between exploiting international and domestic flights. 

However, foreign-capital-invested air transport businesses must satisfy 3 further conditions. First, the foreign ownership must not exceed 34% of the charter capital, which is higher than  that of the old regulation (30%). Second, foreign enterprises must have at least one Vietnamese individual or a Vietnamese legal entity holding the largest portion of charter capital. Third, in case the Vietnamese legal entity has grown owned capital, the foreign capital contribution shall not exceed 49% of the charter capital of the Vietnamese.

Moreover, the Government eliminates the condition that two years after an airline obtains an air transport license, ownership of the company must be transferred to foreign investors. 

Requirement on the age limit for used aircraft imported in Vietnam is another important point that foreign enterprises should pay attention to. A used passenger transport aircraft must be older than 10 years, measured from the date of release to the date of importation in Vietnam, or not exceed 20 years from the release date to the time of expiration of the hire contract.  The age of used helicopters must not exceed 25 years.

Though Vietnam’s aviation market can produce lucrative opportunities, the regulatory complexity can pose a big challenge to foreign enterprises hoping to start business in this market. With insightful knowledge into the aviation market and its related regulatory framework, Viettonkin can provide valuable guidelines for our partners and help you concentrate your power on your business. Let’s work together!