Vietnam cut landing and take-off fees for int’l airlines

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has cut landing and take-off fees for international airlines by 5 percent in an incentive scheme to help carriers cope with the global economic slump.
Pham Xuan The, head of the finance department at the administration, said the incentive would remain in place until March 1 next year. The fee cuts will be offered by all international airports in Vietnam.
Landing and departure fees in Vietnam vary between different airplanes, with larger planes subject to higher fees. For instance, without the incentive, the fee for an Airbus A320 was around US$320 while a Boeing 737-400 had to pay $235, The said, adding the cuts would partly ease financial difficulties for airlines.
International airlines said that although the fee cuts were not big, they could benefit airlines that fly regularly to Vietnam, including AirAsia, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
There are more than 40 passenger and cargo airlines flying to three international airports in Vietnam – Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, Da Nang Airport, and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Carriers around the world have incurred losses this year as air travel declined amid the recession. The International Air Transport Association has recently raised its forecast for overall airline losses for 2009 to US$11 billion from the previous forecast of $9 billion, according to AFP.