Vietnam's 'bikini airline' to offer direct flights to India - Be ready to fly high
New Delhi : Vietnam's 'bikini airline' is in limelight with its recent announcement. The budget airline VietJet of Southeast Asian country will soon start its direct flight service to India. The airline will operate four flights between Vietnam's capital Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi to be scheduled every week. The direct flight operation will start from July and August 2018.
The idea of starting direct flights will obviously connect India with Vietnam in terms of business, as well. Officials at VietJet has announced its plan connect India at the Vietnam–India Business Forum on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of India-Vietnam diplomatic relationship and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two Asian countries.
The budget VietJet earned the popular name of "bikini airline" in 2012 after publishing an annual calendar featuring bikini-dressed models as flight attendants, pilots and ground staff.
However, this approach has created a lot of controversies all around. But, the best part was that it the airline became famous across the world. In order to popularise the budget carrier, associated service provider has also organised fashion shown abroad its flights exhibiting swimsuit-clad models and beauty pageant contestants.
It was due to uncommon uniform pattern, VietJet gained popularity a very short span of time, thereby making its Founder and Chief Executive Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao to become Vietnam's first woman billionaire.
Meanwhile, the VietJet budget airline was fined for ignoring air safety by organising such shows mid-air. But, it did not patch up with the strict action taken against the flight and continued to conduct shows. Defending the the calendar and fashion shows, Vietjet founder and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao claims that the kind of activities are "empowering images in Vietnam’s conservative culture".
As of now, Vietnamese budget airline serves destinations across Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Myanmar, Cambodia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The airline has a fleet of A320s and A321s.
As per official records, the airline was named as one of the Top 500 Brands in Asia 2016 and "The Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier" at the TTG Travel Awards 2015.
