Foreign airlines rush to open new routes from Vietnam

Targeting the middle-class consumer and clients who have demand to travel abroad at low cost, a series of foreign airlines have scored initial success with new air routes from Vietnam.

Hoang, an office worker, said he was excited as airfare for flights from HCM City to Tokyo had become more affordable.

Hoang flew to Tokyo in late March 2016 with Cathay Pacific and had to pay VND9 million for a return ticket. He was satisfied with the airfare, because at that time, the fares offered by air carriers were between VND12 and VND13 million.

However, Vanilla Air has begun providing flights, with a one-way ticket, including tax and fee, of VND4 million. “The price now is better than some months ago,” he commented.

Phuong Thanh, 24, noted that it is easy to find low-cost tickets for flights from HCM City to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

“It costs VND1.5 million to fly to Kuala Lumpur, while it is a little bit higher to fly to Bangkok if you fly with Nok Air,” she said. If passengers book tickets in advance, they can enjoy better airfares.

An analyst said that international airlines were rushing to open air routes to Vietnam because they bring satisfactory revenue.

Vanilla Air, the Japanese air carrier, which began providing flights from Vietnam two weeks ago, confirmed that the occupancy rate on flights from HCM City to Tokyo/Narita has been more than 85 percent.

Air New Zealand has also gained initial success since it opened a direct air route to Vietnam in June 2016.

In the past, Vietnamese passengers had to fly with other airlines to reach New Zealand, which cost them about VND30 million. But with the direct route, the cost has been cut by half.

Cam  Wallace from Air New Zealand said that following the initial success, the air carrier would continue the direct Auckland-HCM City air route in the second season, from June 24 to October 25 of next year with Dreamliner aircraft.

In addition, Malindo Air (Malaysia), after opening the Kuala Lumpur – HCM City route in January 2016, has opened a route to Hanoi.

In June 2016, Cambodia Angkor Air began providing flights from HCM City to Sihanoukville. Prior to that, Bangkok Airways launched a Bangkok - Da Nang route.

Kim Chi / vietnamnet