Foreign giant eyes domestic Aussie routes in major shake-up

Foreign giant eyes domestic Aussie routes in major shake-up says Vietjet, the Vietnamese low-cost carrier already operating Vietnam–Australia international flights, has applied to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority to begin domestic services. If approved, Vietjet would become the first airline to challenge Australia’s long-running domestic duopoly of Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin for more than a decade. Industry figures quoted in the report expect additional competition to pressure fares. Melbourne Airport’s Lorie Argus said extra competition can mean better airfares, while aviation analyst Peter Harbison argued Vietjet differs from previous challengers because it is already established and financially backed. Harbison also pointed to the opening of Western Sydney Airport in October, expected to provide enough slots to support the airline’s prospects. Vietjet already operates domestic routes in Thailand and Kazakhstan, and the regulator typically takes around six months to assess applications.