IPP Group has its fingers crossed as the company’s air cargo division anticipates its air operator certificate by the end of July, as well as the delivery of the first of four Boeing 737-800BCF freighters in the same month.

Talking at an industry event last week, Philip Nguyen, IPP Travel Retail CEO, said the luxury retail conglomerate plans to start its air operations in September, with initial flights to Hong Kong and Singapore.

The new carrier is currently in talks with Singpost and Cainiao and has brought in former Polar Air Cargo COO Lars Winkelbauer as an advisor.

In addition to the first four freighters that are wet leased from lessor BBAM, Nguyen said the company plans to procure at least 10 more freighters, including widebody aircraft, over the next three years.

IPPG has also inked an MoU with Australia’s Wagner Corporation to develop a ‘commerce corridor’ between Queensland’s Toowoomba (WTB) and Vietnam, which is expected to start as early as March 2023.

Nguyen said there are plans to use Da Nang (DAD) and Cam Ranh (CXR) as a staging point for cargo to be forwarded to other destinations in the region, or to Vietnam’s sea ports.