The above petition was sent after VJA sold 30 percent stake to AirAsia.

In the document sent to prime minister, VNA said that allowing cheap air carriers massively joining Vietnam market and seeking way to buy domestic "trade marks" cheaply will be likely to cause serious impacts on the existence and development of Vietnam's newly established aviation firms.

Talking with Tuoi Tre (youth) newspaper, Nguyen Duc Tam, VJA's general director said that till date, AirAsia has finalised all procedures to buy shares into VJA. Tam affirmed that "VJA having foreign shareholder is completely suitable with Vietnam's law. With the holding of 30 percent stake, AirAsia plays only role as a shareholder in the local firm. The company's all strategic decisions will be decided by the director board under the majority principle".

Tuoi Tre - March 13, 2010