Local airlines have initiated plans to restore the entire domestic flight network in June to meet the travel demand of passengers as the country moves past the novel coronavirus period.
Airlines gear up to restore domestic flight network in June
Up until the end of May 15, Vietnam Airlines is scheduled to continue to operate 17 flights each day on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route, with plans in place to increase the frequency to 23 flights per day on the route from May 16.
The airline will also increase the number of flights to eight per day on the Da Nang-Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City route, six to seven flights per day on Ho Chi Minh City-Phu Quoc route, and five flights per day on Ho Chi Minh City-Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa and Vinh route. Elsewhere, the remaining routes will see one to four flights taking place per day.
With this increase, Vietnam Airlines is expected to restore the entire domestic flight network in June after resuming operations on two routes between from Da Nang to Van Don and Can Tho.
Moreover, Jetstar Pacific plans to operate one return flight daily as of May 7 between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, in addition to Vinh and Thanh Hoa, along with four flights per week from Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku, Chu Lai, and Dong Hoi.
The low-cost carrier will continue to monitor demand within the domestic market as plans are made to increase flights over the coming days, especially on the route between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam Air Services Company has also moved to increase the frequency of flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao to between six and eight flights per day.
The airline has planned to operate two to three flights per week on routes between Hanoi and Dien Bien, from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia and Ca Mau, as well as between Can Tho and Con Dao. In addition, Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air have also made plans to restore similar routes ahead of June.
As of May 7, local airlines will be abolishing regulations on seat spacing as well as limiting the number of passengers on the plane. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam will also unanimously remove restrictions on the number of flights on routes between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang.
A series of airlines will continue to offer incentives, pushing fares far lower than seen during the social distancing period to provide passengers with more options.