Vietnam flies friendly skies
The airspace over Vietnam looks to get much busier as inbound tourism booms and airlines open new routes to accommodate demand.
Thai Airway is leading the charge of international carriers, racking up an extra 17 Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok route flights, bringing the total number of flights to Vietnam to 31 from October.
Japan’s All Nippon Airway will tack on an extra HCMC-Tokyo flight while new comers such as HongKong Airlines will inuaguarate its first flight on September 9, Nok Air, a Bangkok-based budget airline, is also awaiting a licence to begin operations into both Ha Noi and HCM City.
Domestically, Malaysia-based regional budget market leader, Asia Airlines, has announced plans to partner up with leading Vietnamese shipbuilder, Vinashin, to operate flights inside the country. Asia’s first low-cost carrier is also set to kick off another run between HCMC and Kuala Lumpur.
Not to be left behind, national flag bearer Vietnam Airlines also jumped into the frey by taking advantage of a surging influx of Republic of Korea-based businessmen. The country’s only international operator is kicking off new Ha Noi-Busan flights.
Vo Huy Cuong, Head of the Air Transportation Service under the Vietnam Aviation Department, said the number of foreign airlines licensed to operate over Vietnamese airspace stood at 35 with a large number coming from Northeast and Southeast Asia.
“Local carriers are confronting rivals such as Thai Airway, Singapore Airlines and budget airlines such as Tiger Airways and AirAsia,” said the aviation expert.
Domestic airports expect to welcome 19.5 million air passengers in 2007 against 16.7 million in 2006.
The aviation industry has reported growth rates of 16 percent for air passengers and 14 percent for cargo transportation in 2006.
Vietnam News Agency - September 8, 2007.
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