Domestic airfares have doubled or tripled in the past week because airlines have cut the number of flights.

The planes are being maintained for the coming holiday season

Thu Ha, head of an airline ticket agency in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, confirmed that the fares had been unusually high in the past week. According to Ha, the prices surged because Jetstar Airlines cancelled many flights from now until Tet Holiday. Some flights are rescheduled and passengers were transferred to Vietnam Airlines flights. The planes are also being maintained for the coming holiday season.

A Vietjet Air representative also said they returned planes hired for the summer period and leased out some of their planes until next holiday season. Cheap tickets were already booked. They will try to add three more Hanoi-HCM City flights each day but could not promise lower prices.

The ticket prices from Hanoi to HCM City increased from VND1.8m-2m (USD80-88) to VND2.5m-VND3.6m. Not only the passengers but the ticket and travel agencies were also affected. Several passengers decided to cancel the flights or change the mode of transport.

Mai, an office worker in Hanoi, said she avoided going on a family trip during the summer holiday to wait for cheaper tickets but in the end, she had to switch to the train.

A representative of Jetstar Airlines explained that the demand this year was higher than previous years, however, the price hike would not last long.

Talking with Tuoi Tre News, a leader of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam confirmed on October 2 that many airlines cut the number of flights and focused on maintenance for the planes during the downtime from August 15 to November 15. 

"The airlines usually have eight to 12 different prices and they must register their prices with the CAAV. We'll check to see if the new prices have been registered yet," he said.

dtinews