Aviation and tourism activities to restore quickly

According to the plan, from mid-March, Vietnam will officially reopen tourism activities. Therefore, the aviation industry is facing the prospect of a quick recovery, when the number of international passengers going to or from Vietnam, is forecasted to increase sharply.

The Government's policy of reopening regular international routes is a very favourable condition to help airlines reduce costs, actively build flight schedules, and open two-way ticket sales for passenger transportation.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has forecasted that the aviation market will recover around 2023, but the recovery speed of different markets depends on each country's vaccination process and plans to open international flights. IATA also forecasts that in 2022, Asia will recover gradually, but the recovery speed will be slower than Europe and North America.

According to statistics of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), as of February 15, there were regular passenger flights between Vietnam and a number of countries and territories, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, and Taipei (Taiwan, China), Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Australia, Germany, Russia, France, the UK, the US, Hong Kong (China), Malaysia, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE.

Particularly for the Chinese market, airlines are carrying out one-way passenger transportation from China to Vietnam.

Vietnamese airlines operating regular international routes include Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines.

Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Aviation Association (VABA) Bui Doan Ne said that the reopening of international routes is an agreement between the two countries. Before the reopening of regular international routes, the average international passenger to or from Vietnam, was about 40,000-50,000 passengers per month. After piloting the reopening of international routes from January 2022, the number of international visitors to and from Vietnam, increased to more than 103,000 in January; and by the end of February 14, it had increased to 153,000.

The leader of the CAAV assessed that, with the removal of restrictions on passenger transport activities on regular and irregular international flights, it is expected that the number of international passengers to or from Vietnam will be increase sharply in the coming period. The goal of gradually recovering back to the level before the Covid-19 epidemic will be quickly achieved.

From February 15, the fact that Vietnam does not limit the frequency of operation of regular international routes to all markets, is a favourable premise for airlines to restore and expand their international flight network, and prepare to meet international tourism demand in the near future.

Vietnam Airlines leaders said that from April, the airline will increase the total number of flights operating across the international network, to at least 95 flights per week and from July at least 164 flights per week, with flight frequency ensuring sufficient demand and suitable flight times for all types of passengers.

According to Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel Holdings, aviation plays a prerequisite role in opening up international tourism, as tourists traveling by air account for a large proportion, especially international tourists.

Therefore, if you want to open the door for trade, travel, and tourism, aviation has to take the lead. The lifting of frequency restrictions on regular international flights to all markets, returning to normal as before the epidemic from February 15, and opening borders to welcome tourists from March 15, are very positive moves by the Government, the Ministry of Transport and the CAAV, creating a premise for the "push" to open up international tourism.