Vietnam carriers seek 10 mln foreign arrivals in 2022

Vietnamese airlines are expected to see nearly 10 million international arrivals in 2022, nearly 100 times more than last year amid an ease in travel restrictions post pandemic.

Vietnamese carriers would serve 70 to 80 million passengers this year, of which 10 million are international arrivals, Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), told the Routes Asia 2022 forum in Danang last week. The figure is, however, a 30.3% decline from pre-pandemic 2019.

Until early June, the country's aviation sector welcomed 1.8 million international passengers, fulfilling one fifth of the year's target, up 904.6% year-on-year, CAAV data shows.

At the forum, Vietnamese carriers demonstrated their ambitions to increase foreign passenger numbers.

Vietjet Air stated it plans to induct as many as six more Airbus A330-300s into its fleet as it readjusts its long-haul network to meet newfound demand and markets.

The low-cost carrier already operates a pair of the widebody aircraft on routes to South Korea and Japan. Its commercial director Jay Lingeswara said the next phase is to add the major cities in Australia, followed by the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways is looking to join an alliance in 2023 as the Vietnamese start-up seeks further cooperation to develop its network beyond Asia.

Speaking at Routes Asia 2022, Bamboo CCO Thach Pierre Hoang said the carrier is already in discussions with the likes of Japan Airlines, Air Canada and Virgin Australia on potential interlining pacts.

Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is evaluating the Airbus A220 and Embraer E190/195 regional jets as part of its fleet renewal plans to replace its retiring ATR 72 turboprops.

The state-owned airline is looking to expand its post-pandemic route network in India, with Kolkata and Mumbai identified as potential new destinations.

Within the framework of Routes Asia 2022, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and Societa Esercizi Aeroportuali signed Sister Airport Agreement, aiming to boost cargo transport, develop trade, tourism and investment between Vietnam and Italy.

Major Vietnamese airlines are launching many new international routes or resume flights to cash in on surging demand.

The government on March 15 issued a resolution on visa waivers for citizens from 13 countries namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. Vietnam lifted health declaration requirements on April 27 and dropped its Covid-19 testing requirement for people entering the country on May 15.