Despite a significant increase in flight frequency during the September 2nd holiday, domestic airfares remain high, causing considerable concern for travelers.
According to a survey on the websites of Vietnamese airlines, airfare Domestic flights during the peak period from August 30th to September 4th all saw price increases, especially on the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Quoc routes, with prices ranging from 1.7 to 2.1 million VND per ticket per way.
Despite increased flights, airfares remain high.
On August 13th, Vietnam Airlines announced the addition of 500,000 seats, equivalent to 2,500 flights, after many domestic routes had reached nearly 50% occupancy rates.
Meanwhile, Vietjet announced it will receive 10 more aircraft to enhance its operational capacity and meet demand amidst a shortage of aircraft supply.
According to Mr. Nguyen Son, an airline ticket agent in Ho Chi Minh City, the domestic airfare market in September 2024 also saw significant changes compared to July in both ticket prices and demand.
Following the peak summer holiday season, July sees a surge in passenger numbers, leading to higher ticket prices due to high demand and many flights being fully booked.
Popular routes such as Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang have average prices ranging from 1.5 to 2 million VND per ticket per way. For example, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang during the September 2nd holiday cost from 1.7 to 1.9 million VND per ticket per way, an increase of over 20-30% compared to the same period last year.
"Previously, a flight to Da Nang cost between 1.3 and 1.5 million VND, but now it's gone up to 1.7 to 1.9 million VND," said Mr. Son, adding that the main reason for the price increase is the shortage of aircraft and rising operating costs.
In addition, travel demand remains high after the summer tourist season and the September 2nd holiday, even though the peak season has passed.
Airlines must support tourism.
Speaking with us, Mr. TT - the communications director of a travel company - said that dependence on airline flight schedules makes tours uncertain due to potential delays.
For example, this summer, flight delays have been frequent, and many tours have received negative feedback from customers due to the impact on their travel plans.
However, Mr. Pham Anh Vu, representative of Vietnam Tourism Media Joint Stock Company, acknowledged that airfares during the September 2nd holiday were still higher than usual, but more affordable compared to the peak summer travel season.
In addition, many tourists also choose overseas tours to experience the autumn foliage season in countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea, and Japan.
These tours are often designed with flexibility, featuring nighttime flight schedules to avoid exceeding holiday periods.
Also on August 13th, the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority announced that it had sent a document to Vietnamese airlines regarding the flight schedule during the National Day holiday period on September 2nd, 2024.
Accordingly, this agency requires airlines to proactively coordinate with travel businesses in developing programs and plans for flights to key tourist destinations and countries in order to support, promote, and enhance domestic and international tourism activities.
"Airlines should coordinate with ground service providers to develop flight service plans, especially for nighttime flights; support and facilitate airlines to maintain and stabilize flight rates and frequencies as much as possible, ensuring full safety and operational capacity," the agency requested.
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