Vietnamese carriers plan to increase flight frequencies for winter

Following the global shift to the winter flight schedule, which began on Oct. 27 and runs until March 29, 2025, Vietnamese airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Vietravel Airlines, and Bamboo Airways; and 71 foreign ones have ramped up operations to accommodate the surge in travel.

They conducted a total of 2,720 return flights per week, with Vietnamese carriers operating 1,013 and international airlines 1,707, reflecting respective increases of 152 and 236 flights per week as compared to the summer 2024 schedule.

Vietnamese airlines are now operating 98 regular international routes to 20 countries and territories, up from 92 during the summer schedule.

Vietnam Airlines alone runs 60 routes, with a weekly frequency of 420 return flights, an increase of 41 flights compared to the previous season. Vietjet Air operates 71 routes, increasing its weekly return flights by 110 to a total of 580.

International airlines from 30 countries and territories also serve Vietnam, with a combined total of 124 routes, an increase of three from the summer schedule.

The highest number of foreign airlines operating services to Vietnam comes from China, with 13 carriers, followed by South Korea with 10. Taiwan and Hong Kong each have five airlines operating regular flights to Vietnam.

On the domestic front, Vietnamese carriers are operating 45 routes connecting 22 airports within the country. Vietjet leads with 35 routes and 790 weekly return flights, while Vietnam Airlines, including its regional arm Vasco, runs 34 routes with 912 return flights. Bamboo Airways operates 11 routes with 130 return flights per week, Pacific Airlines offers 11 routes with 77 return flights, and Vietravel Airlines runs five routes with 49 return flights weekly.

Three major international airports in Vietnam - Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, and Da Nang - are seeing the highest levels of activity. Noi Bai International Airport alone handles 35 routes operated by Vietnamese carriers and 39 by international airlines, achieving a weekly frequency of 897 return flights, consistent with the summer schedule.

Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is also a major hub, with 39 routes operated by Vietnamese airlines and 42 by foreign carriers, resulting in 1,031 weekly return flights, a rise of 100 flights from the previous schedule. Da Nang Airport in the central city of Da Nang serves eight routes by Vietnamese carriers and 15 by international airlines, with a total of 364 return flights weekly.

In addition to the regular winter 2024 schedule, Vietnamese airlines are preparing to further increase their domestic flight offerings for peak travel periods, including the upcoming New Year and Lunar New Year holidays in 2025.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has already begun preparations to support airlines by enabling them to add additional aircraft to their fleets, adjusting flight coordination for peak periods, and ensuring readiness for night-time operations at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

The CAAV will also monitor flight bookings and airfares for domestic routes to ensure that high-demand routes are adequately served, particularly during the peak Lunar New Year travel period, ensuring passengers have access to the flights they need for the holiday season.

The CAAV will also monitor flight bookings and airfares for domestic routes to ensure that high-demand routes are adequately served, particularly during the peak Lunar New Year travel period, ensuring passengers have access to the flights they need for the holiday season.