Strong rebound in international services to boost Vietnam's aviation sector

Vietnam's aviation industry is witnessing a dramatic spike in its international services, with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) predicting that the expansion of the flight network will drive overall industry growth.

"Numerous airlines are actively launching new routes to key markets such as China and Taiwan (China)," the agency said.

Local airlines continue to launch new routes to take advantage of the recovery in international travel. Photo: VNA

Looking ahead to the second half of 2024, Vietravel Airlines, Vietnam's fifth commercial airline, plans to increase flight frequencies during the peak summer season and expand its services to Taiwan (China). In September, the airline will launch routes between the central cities of Danang and Hue in Vietnam and Taichung in Taiwan.

On August 2, the carrier launched its inaugural flight from Taipei, Taiwan, to Phu Quoc, marking a significant milestone in its international network expansion.

Nguyen Minh Hai, General Director of Vietravel Airlines, noted that this route enhances connectivity between two of Asia's top tourist destinations and opens up new opportunities for cooperation.

In late June, Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, launched a direct flight between Hanoi and Chengdu, linking Vietnam's capital with China's Sichuan Province. This new route will make it easier for tourists from both countries to explore famous attractions.

The famous beaches of Phu Quoc, located in the southern province of Khanh Hoa, are now more accessible to visitors thanks to the introduction of two new flights by low-cost airline Vietjet in mid-June, connecting the island with Taichung and Kaohsiung in Taiwan (China).

In the first half of the year, some 63 foreign airlines and four Vietnamese airlines - Vietravel Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and Vietjet Air - operated nearly 160 international routes connecting Vietnam to destinations around the world, according to the CAAV.

The international network has returned to pre-covid levels and continues to expand into new markets in Central Asia, India and Australia.

During the holidays and summer, international routes to popular tourist destinations such as Danang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, and Da Lat have seen an increase in flight frequency and capacity.

Twenty-four airlines service Danang International Airport with seventeen international destinations, compared to seven at Phu Quoc International Airport with eight international routes.

Vietnam Airlines Group is working with airports nationwide to improve check-in counters and ground staff services for passengers. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

From January to June, inbound passenger traffic showed remarkable growth, with the markets sending the highest number of visitors to Vietnam being South Korea, China, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Japan and Singapore.

South Korea, Taiwan (China), Japan, Australia and India reported significant increases in passenger numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels. Although the influx of passengers from the Chinese market has not yet reached 2019 numbers, there are positive signs of recovery.

Vietnamese airlines carried nearly nine million international passengers, up 28% from the same period in 2023, capturing 44% of the international market share. Vietjet Air led the market, followed by Vietnam Airlines and Vietravel Airlines.

The CAAV forecasts that international passenger traffic will reach 43.5 million in 2024, up 33.4% from 2023 and 4.3% from 2019.

"This positive momentum will significantly boost Vietnam's tourism industry in the coming months," the CAAV said.

The agency explained that the revival of international air services has contributed significantly to the growth of inbound tourism, with Vietnam welcoming 10 million international tourists in the first seven months of 2024, up 51% from the same period in 2023 and 1.9% from 2019.

South Korea remains the largest source market with 2.6 million visitors, followed by China with 2.1 million and Taiwan (China) with 700,000.