VietNamNet Bridge – After fewer than two years exploring seaplane service, Hai Au (Seagull) Airlines has incurred heavy losses and faces a threat of stopping operation.

Hai Au has three seaplanes but they worked only 700 flight hours a year, less than the maximum capacity, said Hai Au’s general director Dinh Thu Trang.

Trang said the major reason was the lack of appropriate policies.

From September 2014, Hai Au private airline began offering seaplane services in Vietnam. At that time, Hai Au’s seaplane services were said to contribute to the development of the aviation sector and tourism.

However, Hai Au’s services could not develop because the firm had to offer seaplane services based on available air routes, like traditional flights, while seaplanes are directly controlled by pilots.

Therefore, when an air route "closes" (ie the air route between Hanoi and Hai Phong), Hai Au’s seaplanes have to fly to another route, which is a longer distance, resulting in a longer period of flying and higher costs.

According to Hai Au’s CEO Trang, the General Staff has allowed the firm to use the direct air route between Noi Bai and Cat Bi, but on one condition: Hai Au must sign a contract with the Air Force Division 371 (Air Management Center of Region I).

But Hai Au failed to sign such a contract with Division 371 because it had to be signed between the Division and air management units, not an aviation service provider like Hai Au.

Since early 2016, all flights by seaplanes of Hai Au from Noi Bai Airport to Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh have stopped flying.

Another difficulty was from authorities at locations where Hai Au offered flight services.

"When we asked for permission from local authorities to provide seaplane services, they had to organize a lot of meetings to discuss and consider the offer because of the lack of legal foundations. It took us from six months to a year to get approval,” Trang said.

Hai Au has asked the aviation authorities to issue detailed planning for the entire sky of Vietnam, detailed provisions on flight modes, and management, assistance and communication methods in each flight area, and to create favorable conditions for low-range flight operations, the flights outside air routes.

This firm also wants to have only one management agency – the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV).

Nguyen Nam