Three Vietnamese carriers among world's top 100 airlines

Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air have been honored with titles in different categories by UK-based air transport rating organization Skytrax.

Vietnam Airlines was ranked 48th in the list of the world's top 100 airlines of 2022, as voted for by travellers around the world.

The top 10 airlines on the list, in order were: Qatar Airways (Qatar); Singapore Airlines (Singapore); Emirates (Dubai); ANA All Nippon Airways (Japan); Qantas Airways (Australia); Japan Airlines (Japan); Turkish Airlines (Turkey); Air France (France), Korean Air (South Korea) and Swiss International Air Lines (Switzerland).

Vietnam Airlines earned revenues of more than VND30,000 billion ($1.28 billion) in the first half of the year, double the same period last year. However, due to high fuel prices and dormancy of many international routes, its losses mounted to over VND5,100 billion ($217.4 million), down more than VND3,000 billion compared to the same period last year. As of June 30, the airline's accumulated losses stood at VND28,900 billion ($1.23 billion).

Bamboo Airways was ranked 15th in the list of the world’s best regional airlines and second in the list of the best regional airlines in Asia 2022.

The airline was the most punctual Vietnamese airline in the first half of the year, with a 96.3% on-time flight rate, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. It has also been the most on time airline in the domestic aviation industry since 2019.

The carrier's total revenue in the first half of 2022 reached more than VND7,000 billion ($295 million), exceeding 47.8% of its six-month plan, former chairman and general director Dang Tat Thang said at a six-month review meeting of the private carrier. Its revenue is less than one fourth of Vietnam Airlines.

Vietjet Air was chosen the best low-cost airline in Vietnam 2022.

In July, the private budget carrier was named "Best Value Airline of the Year" for 2022 by Australia-based AirlineRatings.com, an air quality assessment organization, for its "low fares, superb cabin crew and innovation."

Vietjet Air also ranked in the top 10 low-cost airlines. The list, in order, comprised: Allegiant Air, AirAsia, EasyJet, Jetstar, Flair, Fly Dubai, Ryanair, Scoot, Southwest and Vietjet.

However, the airline has attained some notoriety for delayed flights. Its on-time rate in the first half of the year was 83.2%, while the figure for Vietnam Airlines was 85%.

Vietjet recorded an after-tax profit of VND145 billion ($6.18 million) in the first half of the year, up 19% year-on-year as domestic travel demand recovered. The firm’s consolidated revenues rose 111% to VND15,934 billion ($679 million), more than half of Vietnam Airlines, according to its financial statement.

The carrier said demand on domestic air routes surged 30% in the first six months over the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

The World Airline Awards, “wholly independent and impartial,” was introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that was truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners, Skytrax said.

The latest online customer survey was done from September 2021 to August 2022. It was offered in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. Over 100 nationalities participated in the 2021/2022 survey. Survey entries were screened to identify IP and user information, with all duplicate, suspect or ineligible entries deleted. More than 350 airlines are featured in the final Award results.