VietNamNet Bridge – The privately-held carrier Air Mekong has rejected a news report that it had delayed jet fuel payments for the country’s main supplier Vinapco.

Air Mekong receives letters from creditors

Passengers board an Air Mekong plane on Phu Quoc Island in this file photo. Air Mekong has rejected a news report that it had delayed jet fuel payments for Vinapco.

The Tuoi Tre report cited a source from Vinapco as saying that since the fourth quarter of last year, the fuel seller had eight times written to the airline requesting payments that had fallen due and exceeded the amount a bank had guaranteed.

But Air Mekong told local media in a statement that it had delayed no payments for Vinapco whatsoever, and had honored contract terms.

The statement said its fuel payments are still guaranteed by the bank and mortgaged by assets.

There have appeared rumors that the carrier might suspend air services as its tickets are available for sale until February 28. However, it has rebuffed the rumors, saying that for the second quarter schedule, its business plan is under review and will be publicized after efficiency and growth issues are resolved.

For the immediate Tet (lunar new year) schedule, Air Mekong launched a third ticket sale on January 4. The HCMC-Quy Nhon frequency will rise to a total of 98 flights but this service will have an extra four to eight flights a day during the pre-Tet week and the post-Tet week.

On the HCMC-Buon Ma Thuot and HCMC-Pleiku runs, services will increase to more than 200 flights in the Tet season, but during two peak weeks, the airline will be adding four to six flights.

More direct services will be made available for flights between the nation’s two biggest cities – Hanoi and HCMC – and the hideaway islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao.

The airline is offering promotional tickets between January 7 and 15 for flights between HCMC and three central cities – Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku and Quy Nhon – at a price starting at VND399,000. Meanwhile, the promotional tickets for HCMC-Hanoi services start from VND888,000. All prices are exclusive of tax and fee.

Air Mekong is now active on 13 routes connecting nine destinations: Hanoi, HCMC, Vinh, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Dalat, Quy Nhon, Con Dao and Phu Quoc.

Source: SGT