A VIP air charter service that provides private jets to customers for an hourly rate has been launched by Vietnam’s Vietstar Airlines, with a one-way flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi priced at US$20,000.

Vietstar operates a three-jet fleet that includes a King Air B350, an Embraer Legacy 600, and an Embraer Legacy 650, an airline representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday.

King Air B350 is a twin-turboprop aircraft produced by American manufacturer Beechcraft, while the Legacy lines are business jets produced by Brazillian aerospace conglomerate Embraer.

These planes are used to provide Vietstar’s recently-launched VIP air charter services, catering to private jet leasing demands of individuals, organizations, and domestic and foreign enterprises, the airline representative said.

Customers will be charged an hourly rate, starting from VND80 million ($3,500) per hour for the King Air jet and up to VND230 million ($10,000) per hour for the Legacy planes, taxes and fees included.

“We also offer air charter services to international destinations within an eight-hour range [from Vietnam],” the representative said.

A one-way trip between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on a Legacy jet would cost around VND460 million ($20,000).

International flights are subject to surcharges depending on the policy and overflight fees applicable in each foreign airspace.

Private guides and chauffeurs for a private car upon arrival are available for an additional cost, the Vietstar representative said.

Vietstar Airlines was formed in 2010 under a joint venture between military-owned A41 Aircraft Repairing Company, Vietstar Airlines JSC, and Tin Thanh Express JSC.

The airline was granted a general air transport business license in 2011, but it was not until July 2019 that it received an Aircraft Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, allowing it to operate commercial flights.

Vietnam has six commercial airlines in operation - Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, VASCO, Bamboo Airways, and Vietstar Airlines.

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