
Hanoi (VNA) – Domestic airlines will increase the number of nightflights before, during and after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday – the biggesttraditional festival of Vietnamese - to meet increasing travel demand ofpassengers.
According to Nguyen Quang Trung, head of Vietnam Airlines’ development planningdepartment, the national flag carrier is adding late night flights during peaktime, with the number of flights surging 30 percent as compared to the sametime las year.
The move aims to meet growing air travel demand and ease ground congestion atairports, he added.
Tet airfares are 10 percent lower than the previous year, and a wide range offlexible fares have been available for customers, Trung said.
Earlier, the Vietnam Airlines Group, which include Vietnam Airlines, budgetcarrier Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), said it willsupply over 414,000 extra seats from January 27 to February 26, 2021 to serveincreasing travel demand. This will bring the total seats on flights operatedby the Vietnam Airlines Group during the traditional holiday to 2.4 million,equivalent to nearly 12,000 flights.
Vietnam Airlines has increased night flights from 0:00 to 5:30 everyday, withairfares sold at 200,000-300,000 VND (8.69-13.04 USD) cheaper than those forday flights.
Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Vietjet Air decided to add more flights departinglate at 23:30 and early at 5:30, as well as provide 1.5 million Tet tickets onall domestic routes. Besides, it has recently opened sales for 1.5 millionpromotional airfares (from 555,000 VND including taxes and fees).
Bamboo Airways said it recently launched direct flightsfrom Can Tho to Phu Quoc island, and Con Dao island in Ba Ria-Vung Tauprovince. The non-stop service will be operated during the week, using Embraer195 aircraft. On the occasion, the airline offers special fares on the route,with one-way ticket priced from 49,000 VND on Can Tho-Phu Quoc, and 809,000 VNDon Can Tho-Con Dao.
Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thanghas issued a directive on enhancing safety measures for airplane duringmaintenance downtime since the number of airplanes in maintenance duringnon-service period is increasing due to COVID-19.
He ordered airlines to keep a close watch and strictlyfollow airplane manufacturers’ instructions on maintenance./.
VNA