The low-cost airline Jetstar Pacific will resume domestic service between HCMC and Hue from December 5, 2008 in coincidence with a traditional pickup in domestic air travel demand and a fall in world oil prices.

Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh, chief commercial officer of Jetstar Pacific, told the Daily on the phone that data showed the number of passengers often jumped during the months toward the end and the beginning of year.

“So, we have decided to resume flights between HCMC and Hue daily in response to the increasing demand of passengers, including foreigners who want to travel by air from this city to central Vietnam,” Binh said.

She added declining world oil prices had made it possible for Jetstar Pacific to fly between HCMC and Hue again. Hue is a renowned tourist destination in central Vietnam besides Danang where the carrier has three daily services.

The HCMC-headquartered carrier suspended its daily flights to Hue and those between Hanoi and this central city more than four months ago due to the then high fuel costs. The carrier also wanted to spare aircraft for the services between Hanoi and HCMC, Danang and other major routes with strong demand.

Jetstar Pacific had to drop the HCMC-Nha Trang run in September 5, 2008 to concentrate on other domestic services with higher seat occupancy and on new international services.

Binh said Jetstar Pacific had not had any detailed plan to resume HCMC-Nha Trang and Hanoi-Hue services.

Binh revealed Jetstar Pacific was expected to receive a first Airbus A320 aircraft in the middle of this month to provide more seats for the market in addition to its existing fleet of five Boeing A737-400.

Jetstar Pacific launched a spring campaign to offer cheap fares for its daily domestic flights.

Customers can book the promotional fares until November 9, 2008 at www.jetstar.com, ticketing offices and travel agencies, or by calling 39550550 in HCMC and Hanoi, and 3583583 in Danang for departure from December 1, 2008 to March 28, 2009.

The fares, which are exclusive of surcharges, taxes and fees, will start from US$ 18 for a single trip between HCMC and Danang, HCMC and Hue, and Hanoi and Danang; from US$ 18 for HCMC-Vinh and Hanoi-Nha Trang flights; and from US$ 31 for HCMC-Hanoi and HCMC-Haiphong routes.

Limited airfares are offered for booking for the flights departing from December 20, 2008 to January 4, 2009 and from January 17, 2009 to February 8, 2009 because of Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year (Tet).

“This spring sale provides customers with opportunities to plan their travel early”, Binh said.