Domestic air travel surges in Vietnam

The number of air passengers during the past week increased by 27% over the same period last year as the holiday period is in high season, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV).

Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports are overcrowded. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

In recent days, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports are overloaded. A representative from the CAAV said that from July 13 to 20, local carriers operated more than 5,900 flights, an increase of 21% over the same period last year. The number of passengers was 1.1 million and the average seat utilization rate on flights was from 85% to 90%.

Currently, Vietnam’s air carriers operate more than 70 domestic routes, an increase of nearly 30 routes compared to the previous year. Many air routes connecting new destinations were opened such as Hai Phong to Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Can Tho; from Vinh to Phu Quoc and Can Tho; Thanh Hoa to Phu Quoc and Da Nang.

Vietnam Airlines alone operates 400 to 500 flights per day, an increase of nearly 10% compared to the first half of July. The airline has opened 22 new routes from the beginning of summer, replacing the wide-body aircraft with the narrow-body Airbus A321 at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports due to the restriction of the frequency for takeoffs.

In the past week, the flight on-time performance (OTP) rate of Vietnamese airlines reached an average of 85%.

Earlier, in the first week of July, when Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports started repairing their runways, the OTP rate was only 50-60%.

Due to the large number of passengers during the summer high season, all airlines recommend that passengers should closely follow relevant information and arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure to complete the procedures.

In addition, passengers are recommended to increasingly use forms of self-check-in procedures such as online check-in, via smartphones instead of performing the procedures at check-in counters.