Aviation authority seeks to increase flights ahead of year-end demand surge

In a proposal it sent to the Ministry of Transport on Friday, the CAAV said the increase would cater to the higher travel demand during the year-end peak season.

Under the proposal, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air would operate six flights a day each on each of the Hanoi-HCMC, Hanoi-Da Nang and Da Nang-HCMC routes.

Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines will operate three each and the newest carrier, Vietravel Airlines, will fly once.

The government allowed airlines to resume flying on all domestic routes on October 21 but with reduced frequency.

Between Hanoi, HCMC and Da Nang they currently operate a maximum of six flights a day either way, which will increase to seven from November 15 under a government road map.

A CAAV spokesperson said the limited number until November 30 would make it difficult for airlines to prepare for the upcoming peak travel season, especially during Lunar New Year, the country’s biggest holiday.

The CAAV also wants to increase the frequency on other routes to nine flights a day from no more than four now, and to normal levels from December.

Passengers from high-risk or locked-down areas and HCMC and Can Tho need to furnish a negative coronavirus test, but those from elsewhere only need to satisfy one of three conditions: a negative test at least 72 hours prior, a certificate showing they are fully vaccinated with the second shot taken between 14 days and 12 months prior or a certificate proving they recovered from Covid-19 not more than six months earlier.

With the pandemic basically under control and the government changing its strategy from zero cases to responding safely to the disease, some tourist destinations have eased restrictions and allowed vaccinated tourists entry since last month.