Vietnam Airlines turned in a net loss of roughly 2.6t dong ($104m) for the three months through March, sending the flag carrier to a ninth consecutive quarter in the red and placing it on the brink of delisting. The loss comes despite sales rising 55% to about 11.6t dong. The easing of COVID restrictions for domestic travel helped passenger traffic recover, especially on flights connecting the capital Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest metropolis. The bottom line improved from the roughly 4t dong net loss in the year-earlier quarter. But the lingering impact of the pandemic along with higher fuel costs kept the company from reaching a profit. A company faces delisting from the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange if it amasses three straight annual net losses, or if cumulative losses surpass the charter capital for the full year, according to local media reports. Vietnam Airlines has been in the red for two consecutive years through 2021. Cumulative losses have hit roughly 24.5t dong as of March 31, exceeding the charter capital by about 2.16t dong. The airline has not released a comment concerning the potential delisting. The company is expected to discuss the matter with securities authorities. Rules state that a company should disclose quarterly finances within 30 days of the end of the reporting period. But Vietnam Airlines announced the first-quarter numbers on Friday, about three weeks past the deadline. The carrier said several employees and accountants were infected with COVID-19, which required isolation.<br/>