Vietnam News Network

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has suggested that Jetstar Pacific Airline would be better to change its logo in October 2010, the time when its temporary license on aviation transport expires.

MOT decides Jetstar Pacific must change logo

Cuong said that the temporary license on aviation transport granted to Jetstar Pacific which is valid for two years, will expire in October 2010. This means that the airline will have to register its business again to the government agencies by that time. If the airline has a new logo by that time, it will be able to submit the new logo to the government agencies at the same time when it follows registration procedures. If not, it will have to follow a lot of complicated procedures later to register its logo.

The air carrier, which is now using the word ‘Jetstar’ or ‘Jet’ and orange star as its logo, has been told to stop doing this. Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung decided two days ago that the use of the logo may make people mistake the Vietnamese air carrier for Australian Jetstar Airways.

Prior to that, in the report sent to the Ministry of Transport, CAAV wrote that Jetstar Pacific, while using ‘Jetstar’ logo, seems to be advertise for Jetstar Airways as well.

Meanwhile, Jetstar Pacific believes that it has the right to provide aviation transport services under the brand names of Jetstar Airways after it has fulfilled the procedures on brand name registration with the National Office for Intellectual Property (NOIP) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) for the franchise deal.

Jetstar Pacific says that the use of ‘Jetstar’ brand name in the aviation market is like the use of ‘Coca-Cola’ in the drink market. The only difference of the two cases is that the products with Coca-Cola brand name can be imported and sold in Vietnam’s market. Meanwhile, Jetstar Airways is not allowed to provide air transport service under the brand ‘Jetstar’ in Vietnam’s domestic market.

CAAV, though admitting that the certificates granted by NOIP and MOIT come in line with the current laws on commercial franchise and intellectual property, still says that the laws on commercial franchise and intellectual property cannot replace other laws Jetstar Pacific must obey, including the aviation law.

CAAV has pointed out that the use of “Jetstar’ brand is the violation of the law on civil aviation.

Cuong from CAAV said that the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), which is now holding 70 percent of stakes of Jetstar Pacific, has agreed with the final decision by MOT. SCIC said that it will ask Jetstar Pacific to work out with CAAV on the detailed guidance for the airline to build up its logo.

However, the logo of Jetstar Airways still can be used for the flights between Australia and Vietnam

Jetstar Pacific is now owned by SCIC, Austrlian Qantas Group, the parent group of Jetstar Airways and Vietnamese Saigoutourist.