Pacific Airlines’ $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam’s Aviation Financial Struggles

Post Published July 26, 2024

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Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Pacific Airlines' Tax Burden Reaches $295 Million





Pacific Airlines, a prominent player in Vietnam's aviation industry, is facing significant financial challenges, with a tax burden reaching a staggering $295 million.

This heavy tax debt is indicative of the broader financial struggles faced by various airlines within the country's aviation sector.

The situation underscores the need for potential policy interventions or reforms to address the vulnerabilities and instability plaguing this critical industry, which plays a vital role in supporting Vietnam's tourism and economic growth.

The $295 million tax burden faced by Pacific Airlines is equivalent to over 35% of the company's reported losses of $845 million in 2022, highlighting the significant financial strain on the airline's operations.

To mitigate its debt, Pacific Airlines has had to take drastic measures, such as suspending flights and returning its Airbus A320 fleet to lessors, resulting in the cancellation of around $220 million of accumulated debts.

The State Capital Investment Corporation's investment of nearly $296 million to acquire shares in Pacific Airlines suggests a strategic effort to stabilize the company and potentially restructure its finances.

Despite these efforts, the aviation sector in Vietnam is still grappling with systemic financial struggles, with Pacific Airlines expected to report a loss of $15 million for 2022, underscoring the need for broader reforms.

The high tax debt burden faced by Pacific Airlines, equivalent to nearly half of its annual losses, underscores the financial challenges faced by airlines in Vietnam's aviation sector, which plays a crucial role in supporting the country's tourism and economic development.

The accumulation of such significant tax debts by Pacific Airlines could prompt discussions around potential policy interventions or financial assistance for the airline and the broader aviation sector, in order to stabilize the industry and encourage recovery.

What else is in this post?

  1. Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Pacific Airlines' Tax Burden Reaches $295 Million
  2. Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Vietnam Airlines Reports First Profit After 16 Quarters
  3. Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Government Considers Deferring $160 Million Loan for Vietnam Airlines
  4. Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Pacific Airlines Suspends Flights and Returns Aircraft

Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Vietnam Airlines Reports First Profit After 16 Quarters





Vietnam's national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has reported its first profit in 16 quarters, posting a net profit of over $179 million in the first quarter of 2024.

This turnaround is attributed to a substantial increase in net revenue and a debt write-off by lessors of Pacific Airlines, a struggling domestic carrier.

While Vietnam Airlines' financial situation has shown signs of improvement, the broader aviation industry in Vietnam continues to face challenges.

Pacific Airlines, for instance, is grappling with a massive $295 million tax debt, equivalent to over 35% of its reported losses in 2022.

The high tax burden and financial struggles of airlines like Pacific Airlines underscore the need for policy interventions and reforms to stabilize the aviation sector, which plays a crucial role in supporting Vietnam's tourism and economic growth.

Vietnam Airlines' first reported profit in 16 quarters was achieved through a substantial increase in net revenue, which reached nearly 117 billion VND, alongside a gross profit increase of over 170 million VND.

The debt write-off by lessors of Pacific Airlines has significantly contributed to Vietnam Airlines' financial uplift, allowing the national carrier to stabilize its operations and improve its economic outlook.

Despite Vietnam Airlines' turnaround, Pacific Airlines continues to struggle financially, having recorded a loss of more than 2 trillion VND in previous years, reflecting the ongoing financial challenges in Vietnam's aviation sector.

In 2022, Pacific Airlines reportedly posted a pretax profit loss of 2,096 billion VND, leading to a restructuring effort that involved Vietnam Airlines acquiring nearly all shares of Pacific Airlines after Qantas Group reduced its stake.

The aviation industry's general recovery and rising airfares have benefitted Vietnam Airlines and other domestic carriers, resulting in reported bumper profits across the sector in early

Vietnam Airlines' first pre-tax profit in 16 quarters, achieving a profit of VND 3 billion (approximately $822,500) in the first quarter of 2023, is a significant milestone for the national carrier.

Despite the progress, challenges remain for Vietnam Airlines, as the carrier continues to grapple with higher input costs and financial risks, which have impacted its ability to report a net profit for the full year.


Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Government Considers Deferring $160 Million Loan for Vietnam Airlines





Pacific Airlines’ $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam’s Aviation Financial Struggles

The Vietnamese government's consideration to defer a $160 million loan repayment for Vietnam Airlines underscores the ongoing financial challenges in the country's aviation sector.

This proposal, submitted to the National Assembly for approval, aims to prevent potential insolvency for the national carrier by July 2024.

The situation highlights the complex financial landscape of Vietnam's airlines, with Vietnam Airlines' subsidiary, Pacific Airlines, also facing severe financial difficulties and having suspended flights due to accumulated losses.

Vietnam Airlines' potential insolvency by July 2024 without the loan deferral highlights the precarious financial state of major carriers in the region, despite the recent uptick in air travel demand.

The $160 million loan in question was partially used for aircraft leases ($2 million) and engine and spare parts ($2 million), showcasing the high operational costs airlines face even during challenging times.

Pacific Airlines, a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, has accumulated losses of approximately $189 million, illustrating the ripple effect of financial struggles within airline groups.

The Vietnamese government's proposal to defer the loan repayment requires National Assembly approval, demonstrating the complex political process involved in supporting state-owned enterprises.

Vietnam Airlines' utilization of government loans for operational expenses raises questions about the airline's long-term financial sustainability and business model.

Pacific Airlines' decision to suspend flights and return its fleet of eight A320s to lessors in exchange for a $220 million debt write-off showcases the drastic measures airlines are taking to survive.

The potential insolvency of Vietnam Airlines, if unable to secure the loan deferral, could have significant implications for Vietnam's tourism industry and economic growth, given the airline's role as the national carrier.


Pacific Airlines' $295 Million Tax Debt A Deep Dive into Vietnam's Aviation Financial Struggles - Pacific Airlines Suspends Flights and Returns Aircraft





Pacific Airlines, a low-cost subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, has suspended its flight operations amid financial difficulties, including a significant tax debt of $295 million.

The airline has returned all of its leased Airbus A320 aircraft to their owners in an effort to alleviate its financial burdens, as part of a broader restructuring process.

This decision follows a pattern of ongoing operational losses, with the airline reporting a pretax loss of $845 million for 2022.

Pacific Airlines' $295 million tax debt is equivalent to over 35% of its reported losses of $845 million in 2022, highlighting the immense financial burden the airline is facing.

To mitigate its debt, Pacific Airlines has had to return its entire fleet of 8 Airbus A320 aircraft to lessors, resulting in the cancellation of around $220 million of accumulated debts.

The State Capital Investment Corporation's investment of nearly $296 million to acquire shares in Pacific Airlines suggests a strategic effort to stabilize the company and potentially restructure its finances.

Despite this investment, Pacific Airlines is still expected to report a loss of $15 million for 2022, underscoring the need for broader reforms in Vietnam's aviation sector.

The high tax debt burden faced by Pacific Airlines, equivalent to nearly half of its annual losses, highlights the financial challenges faced by airlines in Vietnam, which play a crucial role in supporting the country's tourism and economic development.

The accumulation of such significant tax debts by Pacific Airlines could prompt discussions around potential policy interventions or financial assistance for the airline and the broader aviation sector.

Pacific Airlines' decision to suspend flights and return its aircraft to lessors is part of a larger trend of operational changes within the industry, as airlines seek to adapt to the evolving market conditions.

The financial struggles of Pacific Airlines have had a ripple effect on the broader aviation industry in Vietnam, with Vietnam Airlines reporting its first profit in 16 quarters, partly due to a debt write-off by Pacific Airlines' lessors.

The Vietnamese government's consideration to defer a $160 million loan repayment for Vietnam Airlines underscores the ongoing financial challenges in the country's aviation sector and the need for potential policy interventions to support the industry.

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