Brian Jeffrey
The increase in flight availability is set to alleviate ticket costs, offering more choices for holidaymakers planning their trips.
An official from Vietnam Airlines revealed on August 13th the airline’s plan to expand the number of flights during the busy National Day holiday period from August 30th to September 4th. Nearly half a million seats will be provided across the airline’s domestic and international routes, equating to approximately 2,500 flights.
The focus will be on enhancing flight frequencies on domestic routes connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and popular destinations like Da Nang, Da Lat, and Cam Ranh, as well as routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue, Phu Quoc, and others. The total domestic seat capacity will reach 330,000, with over 1,700 flights, marking a 19% increase compared to the same period last year.
“International routes experiencing the most significant increase in flights are those between Vietnam and India, China, Thailand, and Australia. The total international seat capacity is expected to exceed 150,000, covering more than 650 flights, a slight uptick from the previous year,” noted the Vietnam Airlines representative.
Similarly, Vietravel Airlines will offer around 28,000 seats from August 30th to September 4th. As of August 13th, the most sought-after routes include Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang/Quy Nhon and Hanoi – Da Nang, along with Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok.
Vietnam Airlines indicated that nearly half of the main domestic tourist routes are already reserved, with growing demand foreseen in the days ahead. International routes to India, China, Thailand, and Australia are also showing promising results, with occupancy rates ranging from 50% to 70%.
Ensuring seamless travel during the National Day holiday is a key focus for airlines, especially amidst the global aircraft shortage resulting from manufacturers recalling engines for inspection.
Recently, Vietnam Airlines has included an Airbus A320neo and a Boeing 787-10 to its fleet to better cater to the peak travel demand.
In a similar vein, Vietjet aims to receive 10 new-generation aircraft from August through the end of 2024 to serve passengers on domestic and international routes.
Bamboo Airways intends to expand its aircraft capacity in the fourth quarter of 2024. The airline is also striving to increase the average daily flight hours per aircraft to about 12.5 and introduce more night flights to maximize capacity during the National Day peak period.
Moreover, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has issued a directive to domestic airlines, urging collaboration with travel agencies to develop comprehensive travel programs and strategies for key domestic and international tourism destinations.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has also requested airlines to submit their fleet operation plans, demand forecasts, additional flight schedules, and ticket sales for flights to/from major tourist spots during the National Day holiday.
According to ticket vendors, there is an ample supply of tickets for most routes, and prices have decreased compared to the beginning of the year.
To ensure a smooth travel experience, experts recommend booking tickets well in advance of the intended departure date to secure a wider range of flights and potentially lower fares.
Passengers are also advised to utilize self-check-in options to save time, such as online check-in through websites, mobile apps, telephone check-in, or self-service kiosks at the airport.
