Photo by VietJet.
Vietnam's first private airline VietJet Air, is one the fastest growing airlines in Asia but also one of it's most controversial. The budget airline, famous for bikini-clad fight attendants and risqué stunts that have landed them headlines and fines, might be flying into Indonesia soon.Indonesia's tourism ministry said in a press release yesterday that VietJet might soon be adding stops in Jakarta and Bali later this year."The people of Ho Chi Minh and numerous travel agents have expressed their desire to reach Indonesian tourism destinations with direct flights," said Jean Anes, Indonesian Consulate General to Vietnam."Right now, there are no direct flights from Vietnam to tourism destinations in Indonesia."But there might not be any direct flights happening anytime soon. According to the Transportation Ministry, VietJet have yet to file any of the applications needed to open new routes to Indonesia.The airline has repeatedly put itself in the spotlight by offering flights with bikini-clad flight attendants. While it draws ire and fines, their success and expansion has lead the budget carrier to expand throughout Southeast Asia.The low budget airline has taken Vietnam by storm, capturing 40 percent of the local market. VietJet now operates with 60 domestic and international routes.In 2015, about 44,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Indonesia, and the number is expected to grow up to 60,000 according to the Ministry of Tourism. If the routes do materialize, it will help the Minister of Tourism's goal of air travel connectivity in 2017.The airline was founded by Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Southeast Asia's only female billionaire and Vietnam's second ever billionaire.
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