Airlines hire more planes during peak summer season

Airlines are looking for opportunities to increase their fleet to serve the summer peak season. In the photo: Vietnam Airlines aircraft at Tan Son Nhat airport - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Vietnam Airlines leases 3 more planes

On June 13, Vietnam Airlines announced that it would lease three more Airbus A320neo aircraft in 2024. The first aircraft will be delivered this July, right at the peak of the summer travel season. According to the airline, these leased aircraft will contribute nearly 40,000 seats during the peak summer season and 299,000 seats in the second half of 2024.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A320neo aircraft have 182 seats, with 2 business and economy class cabins. Vietnam Airlines plans to operate Airbus A320neo on domestic routes such as Hanoi - Da Lat, Hanoi - Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City - Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City - Chu Lai...

Currently, domestic airlines operate about 160 aircraft, a decrease of about 60-70 aircraft compared to before the pandemic.

The severe shortage of aircraft is one of the main reasons for the recent increase in domestic ticket prices.

Therefore, leasing more aircraft is one of the important solutions to help airlines meet passenger travel needs during the peak summer season, in the context of the aviation industry lacking aircraft due to the impact of global engine recalls by manufacturers.

Since Tet, domestic airlines have not been able to add more aircraft, and Pacific Airlines even had to pay off all of its debt. A representative of Vietnam Airlines said that rental prices have increased by 20-30%.

Pacific Airlines is about to return to the sky

Tuoi Tre Online source at Pacific Airlines, the airline is carrying out procedures to receive Vietnam Airlines' aircraft, starting flight operations after a three-month suspension.

Pacific Airlines is expected to resume commercial flights on June 20.

Meanwhile, Mr. Luong Hoai Nam - CEO of Bamboo Airways - said that domestic airfares can only cool down when the number of aircraft of airlines increases. The world market still has aircraft, airlines just need to be willing to pay higher prices.

According to Mr. Nam, it is possible to rent 60 or even 100 ships. The wet rental procedure takes about 2 weeks to 1 month, while the longest dry rental takes 3 months.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hang-bay-thue-them-may-bay-ngay-cao-diem-he-20240613154356072.htm