Domestic aviation travel surpasses 2019 peak

Vietnamese airlines' seat occupation rate reached 85-87% in June, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

"The domestic aviation market has completely recovered and had strong growth in the second quarter," the CAAV said, citing the seat occupancy rate.

The domestic market in June reached 5 million visitors, up 20.9% compared to May and an increase of 38.8% compared to June 2019, the peak summer month before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vietnamese carriers transported 20.78 million domestic passengers in the first half, up 60% year-on-year and up 12% against the same period in 2019.

International flights reached approximately 1 million passengers in the six months, an increase of 1351.5% year-on-year and a decrease of 88.3% over the same period in 2019.

As of June 30, local airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Vasco, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines and Vietravel Airlines, had operated nearly 60 domestic routes.

Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the CAAV, said the domestic market started to recover in April, grew again in May and experienced strong growth in June.

More than 30 foreign airlines and four Vietnamese airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines are operating 96 international routes connecting Vietnam with 21 countries/territories.

Vietnamese airlines have operated 68 international routes to 16 countries/territories.

Budget carrier Vietjet Air is substantially increasing its number of air routes to India, raising the total to 17 starting this September.

Direct services from Hanoi to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore will debut on September 27, October 7 and November 2, respectively. From Ho Chi Minh City, the first Vietjet flights will take off for the three Indian cities respectively on September 29, October 10 and November 1.

The Singapore market has seen Vietnamese and Singaporean airlines gradually increase their frequency on routes between the island state and Hanoi/HCMC, and open new routes connecting Da Nang and Nha Trang.

Korean airlines like Air Seoul, Air Busan, and Korean Air and Vietnam's Vietjet Air have raised their frequency on routes between Hanoi/HCMC/Danang/Nha Trang and Korean destinations.

The Malaysian market has had more operations of Vietjet Air on three new routes from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Nha Trang to Kuala Lumpur from July.

The Chinese government is gradually opening the door to passenger flights into China, with Vietnam Airlines operating two flights per week.

A leader of CAAV noted: "Up to now, the international market is gradually recovering, but the recovery rate is still low because many countries and regions, especially Northeast Asian countries, are still applying regulations and policies on travel restrictions for the prevention of Covid-19."