Vietnam Airlines’ domestic passenger throughput grows despite COVID-19

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam Airlines has carried nearly 40,000 passengers on domestic routes since the beginning of 2020, an annual increase of 12 percent, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The growth marks the national carrier's good recovery as the country has been able to contain COVID-19. It is attributable to the airline’s optimisation of its domestic flight network and fleet, the reopening of and increase of frequency on several routes, promotional programmes, customer services, and disease prevention and control efforts.

The national flag carrier is currently operating more than 40 domestic routes with close to 200 flights a day. Following positive developments in the fight against the pandemic, it has added more flights to routes between Hanoi and seven localities - Vinh, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Tuy Hoa, Nha Trang, Da Lat, and Pleiku, and between HCM City and Da Nang.

It resumed six domestic routes in early September, including Hanoi - Chu Lai, Hanoi - Tuy Hoa, Vinh - Buon Ma Thuot, and Hai Phong - Dien Bien. It also worked with Pacific Airlines to introduce joint products offering passengers new and convenient options.

The carrier is working to resume international flights in line with Government directions and approvals from foreign authorities. Resumptions have already been seen on its route between Vietnam and Japan, with the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (China), Laos and Cambodia to follow shortly. 

Given current growth levels coupled with the resumption of international flights, its total passenger throughput this year is forecast to soon reach or even surpass the figure recorded last year./.