More Seats To And From Vietnam

[peter991]

More seats to and from Vietnam

More foreign airlines are putting their support behind growing air capacity to and from Vietnam, showing their confidence in the destination.

Thai Airways announced it will add one flight on its Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City schedule from October, bringing the total number of Thai flights to the city to 17 and to Vietnam to 31.

Nond Kalinta, general manager of the carrier in Vietnam said the airline was optimistic about growth in both the inbound and outbound sectors.

He said Thai was “looking for a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent in seat occupancy in Vietnam this year”, adding that air traffic in Vietnam would take “sharp growth” this year.

AirAsia is also preparing to launch its Kuala-Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City service this year, in order to meet growing demands after the success of its Kuala-Lumpur to Hanoi and Bangkok to Hanoi daily services.

In response, Malaysia Airlines said it will increase capacity on its routes, utilising bigger aircraft on its existing Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City services, totalling 23 flights per week.

The airline’s General Manager, Terence Krish Swampillai, said it will adopt changes when the market is ready.

“The market is big enough for Malaysia Airlines and we are looking at increasing our capacity,” he said.

He said the airline has posted a 20 to 30 per cent increase in passenger numbers year on year, with forecasts looking even better for 2008.

“We expect to see more growth next year,” he said.

Booking agents are expecting air traffic to grow 30 per cent this year, after Vietnam attracted more than 12 million air passengers in 2006.

“Now is the time for more airlines to join the market, especially after the new terminal was opened at Tan Son Nhat Airport,” Mr Kalinta said.

Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines are part of the foreign airlines that will move its check-in counters to the new terminal at the end of the month, a week after its soft opening.

Peter

[B-BOY]

That's excellent news...thanks for posting Peter. Let's see how long it will take till AirAsia will strike deal on lucrative SGN-BKK route....

New international terminal just openend last week here in hcmc and i am due to check it out tomorrow morning, full report to follow next Wednesday.

Cheers!

Edited August 31, 2007 by B-BOY

[peter991]

B-BOY: I see what you mean about pricing on the route. Quite a few airlines already fly between the two cities (United Airlines, Thai International, Vietnam Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Air France, Siam Reap Airways International, Malaysia Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines). I counted an average of 36 return flight daily between the two cities. Is there room for another airline on that route?

Peter

[B-BOY]

Peter, I actually have been referring to Saigon-Bangkok route....no low budget carrieer as of yet flying this very lucrative route as of yet....only Thai and Vietnam Airlines do have daily flights AF, LH and PG fly on weekends and Tuesday...

However, PG has daily flight starting from October and I just received breaking news through wire, which could change alot in future making fares and options more affordable for everybody:

AirAsia makes move on Vietnam

Sydney (2007-08-31)

CENTRE for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) reported today that Malaysia-based low-cost carrier (LCC) AirASia was taking steps to enter Vietnam.

CAPA said AirAsia had signed a letter of intent with Vietnam Shipping Industry Group - Vinashin - to establish an LCC in Vietnam.

If approved by the authorities, the joint-venture partner intend for the new airline Vina AirAsia to operate domestic and international services, shorthaul and longhaul.

Cheers!

[THAILIBAN]

AirAsia is setting up a new Airline in Vietnam within a few months, its 3rd subsidiary after ThaiAirAsia and Indonesia Air Asia. Will be Called "VINA AIR ASIA". for sure they will do domestic flights in VN as well...... and finally smash the Monopoly that VietnamAirlines (including PacificAirways) has..... Good news again !