The Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Joint Stock Company (VALC) has authorised the department to conduct the auction.
A representative from VALC revealed that only one buyer registered to buy the plane at the auction and won the bid. The buyer must deposit USD280,000 to secure the deal.
This was the ninth auction for the aircraft after eight previous times had failed to find a buyer. The first time was in 2016 with a starting price of VND215 billion. In 2018, it was auctioned again at the price of VND189 billion.
The plane was made in 2010 and has 68 seats. It used to be hired by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to run on routes to small airports that could not receive Airbus 320 aircraft, including Con Dao, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Dien Bien.
Vietnam Airlines stopped leasing the plane as part of its plan to renew its fleet. This was intended to help the national flag carrier save costs, ensure stable operations, improve service quality, and successfully compete with other airlines.
The national flag carrier previously sold four other ATR 72-500s.
