Reports show that air routes from HCM City to other localities have sold well, especially for flights on February 2-9.

Flights from HCM City to Buon Me Thuot have occupancy rates of 82-100 percent, to Da Nang 79-95 percent, to Hai Phong 87-93 percent, to Hue 86-98 percent, to Pleiku 84-98 percent, to Tuy Hoa 80-83 percent, to Thanh Hoa 83-92 percent, to Quy Nhon 82-100 percent, to Chu Lai 80-97 percent, to Quang Binh 88-106 percent, to Vinh 86-94 percent.

Return flights from localities to HCM City  are also selling well. Particularly, some routes have run out of tickets for flights from February 11 to February 19.

Meanwhile, occupancy rates on HCMC-Hanoi route on February 1-9 are 56-82 percent booked. The rates are 80 percent for February 3, 4 and 7. Rates are lower for Hanoi - HCM City flights, just 40-60 percent.

CAAV reports that Vietnamese airlines are providing more flights on routes from HCM City, about 324 additional flights with 61,000 seats.

Passengers passengers who have booked tickets feared delays or suspension. N.V.M said in October 2023, he booked tickets for the HCM City - Vinh flight with departure at 5.30 pm February 7, paying airfare twice as much as the previous year. 

Two weeks ago, he received a call from the air carrier which informed him that his flight would depart at 2 am the next day.

“I tried to book tickets very early and booked daytime departure, but I still have to depart at night and I have only heard ‘sorry’ from the airline,” he said.  

A senior executive of an airline said that they sometimes change departure time based on slots.

Also, flight scheduling can depend on airplane engine testing. The testing timetables are set by engine manufacturers, and airlines have to follow the timetables. When an airplane needs to have its engine tested, airlines have to arrange another airplane to serve passengers, affecting flight plans.

Ngoc Ha