With 2 of its rivals having recently unveiled interest in buying passenger terminals at airports across Viet Nam, low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines has decided that it cannot stay out of the game.

Jetstar has proposed acquiring the right to exploit an old terminal at the Da Nang International Airport to serve its budget airline business, according to a document the carrier submitted to the Ministry of Transport.

The no-frills carrier wants to operate the old terminal, which was ‘retired’ when the new one was commissioned in late 2011, for 20 to 50 years, according to the proposition.

Foreign tourists at the Da Nang International Airport

Located in the central hub of Da Nang, the airport reached its design capacity of five million passengers last year.

The Jetstar proposal came less than a week after multifaceted conglomerate Hanoi T&T suggested buying the Phu Quoc International Airport, located on the eponymous island off the southern Vietnamese coast.

Two of its local competitors, no-frills VietJet Air and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, have also shown interest in buying the Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi.

These propositions from the airlines are an encouraging response to the transport ministry’s call for private non-public investments in the country’s traffic infrastructure, especially airports or seaports.

Jetstar said having the right to exploit the old Da Nang terminal will enable the carrier to improve its service quality and create more convenience for passengers.

“It will also be a chance to encourage other airlines under the Jetstar Group to operate services to Da Nang, contributing to boosting the city’s tourism and economy,” the airline said.