Post-Tet ticket shortages leave workers stranded

People finding themselves stranded after Tet celebrations due to ticket shortages are unable to return home and go back to work.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year (February 17th), Thanh, a passenger of Jetstar Pacific canceled the flight she booked for the 6th day of Lunar Year (February 19). An emergency meant she had to delay for two weeks. She had expected the travel agent would be angry to receive such a late cancellation but the opposite turn out to be true.
“The flight was scheduled on auspicious day, the sixth day of Lunar New Year. So, I can say for sure that many people will need the tickets,” the agent told Thanh, adding that all the flights for the first two weeks of the lunar new year are fully occupied.
Fifteen minutes later, the two tickets for the flight from Hanoi to HCM City were sold to another couple at the price higher than the original .
“The ticket scarcity has never been so serious,” the agent said.
Tu, an office worker, said that on the afternoon of the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, she had to move heaven and earth to seek two tickets for her parents to fly to HCM City. At first, the parents planned to go to HCM City by train. However, as train tickets ran out, Tu had to manage to find air tickets.
“They must return to HCM City soon to be present at the worship ceremony to relieve family’s members of their run of bad luck,” she said.
Tu felt so happy when she obtained two tickets to fly with Jetstar Pacific, though she had to pay 150,000 dong higher than the original price.
Vietnam Airlines and Jestar Pacific Airlines have both said that ticket scarcity will last till after the upcoming weekend.
Jestar Pacific’s spokesman said that there are only seats left on the flights from the south to the north, while flights from the north to the south have been fully booked. A lot of flights departing in March have also been fully occupied, since it is now the season of traveling to enjoy spring and spring festivals.
Jetstar Pacific has provided over 1,000 flights and served 131,000 passengers on Tet holidays, which is considered a record since the air carrier changed its name from Pacific Airlines to Jetstar Pacific Airlines and changed its operation model.
Vietnam Airlines has been the main air carrier on Tet holiday. On February 21, the air carrier had to arrange an unscheduled flight to rescue 200 passengers who stuck at airports.
According to Vietnam Airlines’ spokesman Le Hoang Dung, the number of flights provided by Vietnam Airlines on Tet holiday is double last year’s with 5,099 flights and 850,000 tickets.
Analysts say that ticket scarcity is more serious this year because of the lack of aircrafts frpm Jetstar Pacific and the halt in providing flights by Indochina Airlines.