AirAsia will begin operating from a fourth national base this year after agreeing to buy into and rebrand a Vietnamese airline, even as the local affiliate of rival Jetstar struggles with a barrage of difficulties with the government in Hanoi. The move strengthens AirAsia’s lead in Southeast Asia over Jetstar and Tiger Airways as the three Asia-Pacific, no-frills groups race to set up multinational franchise chains. For the first time, two of them will have franchised affiliates in the same country.

Chengdu Airlines, the recapitalized and renamed United Eagle Airlines, has received an operating license. United Eagle was privately run but, as Chengdu Airlines, it is now a government outfit, owned by state companies that include Sichuan Airlines and commercial aircraft builder Comac. Its mission calls for focusing on the western districts of China, regional routes, a large network and “domestic production”— the latter a reference to the 30 Comac ARJ21s that it ordered as part of its restructuring.

Thai Airways International will drop three routes in its new schedule: those linking Bangkok and Kuwait; Bangkok, Manila and Osaka; and Hong Kong and Taipei. The change will take effect in March. In May, the airline will resume flying a previously unsuccessful rout -- between Bangkok and Johannesburg.