20181227 VietJet AirAsia planes.jpg

AirAsia is entering a market where the skies are already crowded with key players, including the ambitious budget carrier Vietjet. © Reuters

AirAsia set to meet its match in Vietnam's Vietjet

Low cost-carrier drives growth by copying from Southeast Asia's budget pioneer

KUALA LUMPUR -- Three times Tony Fernandes has tried to take AirAsia Group into Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia's fastest growing aviation markets. Three times he has failed. Now, the unstoppable head of the region's first and largest low-cost carrier is going for a fourth attempt.

But he may have met his match in Vietnam's Vietjet Aviation, which in just seven years has snapped up 45% of the local market, largely by imitating -- and sometimes topping -- AirAsia's brash, confident business model.

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