Marwan Al Marri, Country Manager of Emirates Airlines in Vietnam, (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Hanoi (VNA) - Emirates Airlines currently operates daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Dubai and 130 destinations in its global network.
The Vietnamese aviation market saw strong recovery in 2022 and attracted many international airlines after the country effectively controlled the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marwan Al Marri, Country Manager of Emirates Airlines in Vietnam, said the carrier will gradually increase the frequency of flights to Vietnam in order to attract more tourist arrivals to the Southeast Asian nation.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper had a discussion with Marwan Al Marri in a recent interview related to the issue.
Vietnam’s aviation industry regains growth momentum
Reporter: What is your assessment of the recovery and development of Vietnam's aviation industry in the post-COVID-19 period?
Marwan Al Marri: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast that the aviation industry will record a return to profitability and can post a net profit of 4.7 billion USD in 2023 as the number of passengers using flight services continues to increase sharply thanks to the reopening of countries after a prolonged period of being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, Vietnam has successfully controlled the pandemic and maintained pre-pandemic economic growth momentum.
Vietnam’s aviation industry has an opportunity to recover soon and regain momentum. According to Dinh Viet Thang, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the domestic aviation market has grown strongly in 2022, and was considered one of the sharpest growth markets after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the international aviation market has recovered about 50% of its business. The impressive numbers show the strong rebound of Vietnam's tourism industry.
Reporter: How have Emirates' operations in Vietnam restored after the country announced the reopening to international tourists? How far has the carrier's capacity recovered toward its pre-pandemic level?
Marwan Al Marri: Emirates has significantly restored its flight network, fleet, and operations, and the firm has experienced a strong recovery as travel restrictions began easing in 2021.
Emirates Airlines operates about 80 Airbus A380 aircraft to 40 countries worldwide, while its fleet of over 140 Boeing 777 aircraft serves as the backbone of Emirates' operations. Its aircraft have operated at full capacity and strategically focused on key cities to enhance brand presence and meet the great demand for travel and cargo transportation worldwide.
The Long Thanh Airport project shows the development potential of Vietnam's economy in general, and its aviation industry in particular. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
In Vietnam, Emirates Airlines has gradually increased the frequency of flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The airline operates daily flights from the two major cities to Dubai, and 130 destinations within its global network.
With its broad global network and excellent service hub in Dubai, Emirates has been supporting the export of high-tech products from Hanoi, and agricultural products from HCM City to international markets.
Emirates supports domestic suppliers in transporting perishable goods, high-tech items such as mobile phones, as well as textiles and footwear products from Vietnam to various destinations, especially Europe and the Middle East markets. Pharmaceutical products and some other commodities are common items that the airlines supports to ship to Vietnam.
Emirates has so far transported approximately 1.6 million passengers to and from HCM City, significantly contributing to the local tourism industry and facilitating flexible connectivity for Vietnamese travellers. Meanwhile, Emirates Sky Cargo - the air freight division of Emirates, has transported more than 44,000 tonnes of goods between Vietnam and Dubai since 2012.
Vietnam remains important market for Emirates
Reporter: Could you tell us about the airline's upcoming activities to expand its network of air routes from destinations worldwide to Vietnam and vice versa?
Marwan Al Marri: Vietnam is a developing country with rapidly increasing per capita income, leading to a growing demand for travel and transportation services, producing a huge growth potential.
For now, Emirates' focus is on strengthening its operations while maintaining and strengthening its capacity as the airline industry continues to recover. Emirates will continue to carefully evaluate and analyse the markets where it operates. We take into account the performance and demand of each market, thus seeking opportunities for expansion in that market.
Emirates operates flights to 130 destinations worldwide and is able to provide air connectivity services to Vietnam through its extensive global network, thus boosting the number of visitors to Vietnam, and providing enhanced connection service for tourists as well as business visitors from Vietnam to some popular destinations such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and New York.
Emirates Airlines will gradually increase the frequency of flights to Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Reporter: Long Thanh airport will be put into operation by late 2025, becoming a potential transit airport for international airlines. Has Emirates implemented any plan to take advantage of this potential?
Marwan Al Marri: The construction of Long Thanh airport represents the great development potential of Vietnam's economy in general and its aviation industry in particular.
Emirates has no plan at this time, but the airline remains open dialogue with its partners and will continue to work with local organisations on ways to expand its operations in the market.
Reporter: What will Emirates do to seize the opportunity to promote recovery and speed up development in the context of fierce competition among airlines on many routes? What are the key services provided by Emirates that are most appreciated by customers?
Marwan Al Marri: Competition in providing services brings many suitable choices for customers. Since its establishment in 1984, Emirates is set to become one of the world's leading airlines in terms of extensive network and high-end airline service. In an ever-evolving world, Emirates is constantly improving its services and facilities.
During more than a decade of operation in Vietnam, Emirates has made strides in both passenger and freight services. This shows that its services have been meeting the demand of domestic and international customers.
Emirates offers Vietnamese passengers exceptional travel experiences with world-class products and multinational crew members.
Emirates has invested more than 2 billion USD in implementing its largest-ever refurbishment programme to upgrade 120 aircraft with the most modern interiors and premium economy-class cabins. It is conducting a new service training strategy, and menu upgrades for all classes; and investing in inflight entertainment services namely Emirates ice, aiming to ensure that customers always have a better flight experience.
Thank you for this conversation!
