As many as 1,608 investors, including 28 international investors and two Vietnamese organisations, have registered to buy shares in the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines at its initial public offering scheduled for November 14.

Vietnam Airlines said on November 11 that the investors registered to buy 49.3 million shares, 1 percent higher than the planned amount. Of the total,Vietnamese individuals and organisations plan to buy 922,500 and 48,322,900 shares, respectively, while international investors, 120,800 shares.

The airline announced this was a positive signal, indicating the market’s great interest in Vietnam Airlines’ shares.

On October 30, Chairman of the Vietnam Airlines Board Pham Viet Thanh announced that almost 49 million shares would be sold at a starting price of 22,300 VND (1 USD) each.

The firm plans to convene the first shareholders’ meeting on March 12, 2015.

Vietnam Airlines is now worth more than 57 trillion VND (2.7 billion USD) including over 32.6 trillion VND (1.5 billion USD) invested in aircraft. It recorded an annual growth of 20 percent in revenue and more than 11 percent in passenger volume, higher than the global average.

As a SkyTeam alliance member, Vietnam Airlines remains the largest airline in the country, employing more than 10,000 staff members. It now owns more than 80 aircraft and will purchase another 15 by the end of next year.

VNA/VNN