Vietnam Airlines to add extra flights for Tet

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines Monday announced its plan to offer 850 extra flights on major domestic air routes to meet the surging demand for air travel during Tet, or the Lunar New Year, in February next year.
The additional flights will be offered on the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh and HCMC – Danang routes from February 1 to 28, 2010, The Saigon Times Daily reported.
The largest carrier in Vietnam is planning to operate 562 more flights between Hanoi and HCMC in the period and the remaining 288 flights will run the HCMC-Danang route.
Vietnam Airlines forecast the number of air travelers during the nation’s biggest holiday would increase by 20 percent compared to the same period last year.
The increasing travel demand has prompted the airline to add 6,500 to 7,500 seats a day on the Hanoi – HCMC route, up 45 to 85 percent from the usual capacity. The extra seats for the other route are 1,600 to 3,900 seats a day, up 65 to 120 percent from the usual capacity.
During the last Lunar New Year, Vietnam Airlines operated an additional 832 flights on the two routes, with 110,000 extra seats for the Hanoi – HCMC route and 73,000 more seats for the HCMC – Danang route.
The carrier also plans to operate more flights from HCMC to the central cities of Hue and Quy Nhon, Central Highland cities of Buon Ma Thuot and Pleiku, as well as other domestic destinations during Tet.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates flights to 20 domestic and 24 international destinations.
The carrier is targeting to serve 9.5 million passengers on its domestic and international flights this year compared to 8.8 million passengers last year.
Low-cost airline Jetstar Pacific also announced in October this year the carrier's plan to increase its weekly flights between HCMC and central Vinh City from seven to 11 and from seven to 10 on the HCMC-Hai Phong route during the period from February 1 to 28.