Coaches pick up passengers at the Giáp Bát Terminal in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

The peak travel season of Lunar New Year is fast approaching. Tickets for many key air and rail routes have already been sold out, while road transport providers still have enough vehicles to meet passenger needs.

To meet the increased travel demand during the Lunar New Year peak period, airlines have proactively added aircraft on many routes, and scheduled more flights in early morning and night hours.

In particular, the Vietnam Airlines Group, including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO, provides a total of 2.64 million seats during Tết on both domestic and international networks.

Vietravel Airlines planned to operate more than 100,000 seats on its domestic and international networks.

Vietjet Air has just brought four new aircraft and Bamboo Airways has added two more.

Although airlines added aircraft, increased capacity and arranged night flights, many high-demand routes have been almost fully booked or sold out.

Typically, the routes HCM City – Thanh Hóa/Vinh/Hải Phòng/Huế/Quy Nhơn had a booking rate of 98-100 per cent.

As for railway, according to the original plan, the sector would provide more than 200,000 seats with 390 trains.

But in response to rising demand, the railway companies have added more trains.

Recently, the Hà Nội Railway Transport Joint Stock Company (HARACO) offers tickets for 14 additional passenger trains running in the northern region.

The Sài Gòn Railway Transport Joint Stock Company organised six more trains from Sài Gòn to Hà Nội, Vinh and Phan Thiết, and added more carriages with more than 7,000 seats.

Head of the Hà Nội Railway Transport Station Phạm Thị Anh Đào said that during the Tết holidays, HARACO sold more than 160,000 two-way tickets.

Increased prices

Near the Lunar New Year, road transport is expected to handle a higher number of passengers compared to other periods during the year.

Therefore, by this time, coach companies are ready to serve many passengers.

Some companies announced ticket price increases of up to 17 per cent depending on the route.

At the Mỹ Đình Terminal, the Xưởng Anh Co Ltd running on the Hà Nội - Cao Bằng route will increase ticket prices from VNĐ60,000 (US$2.4) to VNĐ100,000 ($4) per ticket, equivalent to 67 per cent. The Hợp Thành Cooperative also increased prices from VNĐ200,000 ($8) to VNĐ300,000 ($12) per ticket, equivalent to 50 per cent.

Director of Hà Nội Terminal Joint Stock Company Phạm Mạnh Hùng said that the number of passengers could increase by 300-350 per cent compared to normal days.

The number of vehicles at present still meets the passengers’ travel needs.

However, some main routes such as Quảng Ninh, Thanh Hóa, Thái Bình, Sơn La and Lào Cai may experience congestion.

Public order

Director of the Nội Bài International Airport (NIA) Tô Tử Hà said that to ensure maximum service efficiency, the NIA is determined to improve operational capacity.

Currently, 500 car parking locations at terminal T1 and nearly 900 parking spaces for terminal T2 have been prepared.

In addition, the NIA also increased its forces to guide vehicles.

Director of the Giáp Bát Coach Terminal Nguyễn Hoàng Tùng said that the terminal reminded employees to strengthen inspection of vehicles departing the terminal, ensuring public order and on-time operation.

Procedures must be handled quickly and conveniently.

Coach drivers and assistants must sign commitments to strictly implement the terminal's rules and regulations, not overloading vehicles with passengers, and not arbitrarily raising ticket prices incorrectly.

The Giáp Bát Coach Terminal has coordinated with the police forces to resolve congestion around the area, maintain security and ensure environmental hygiene.

Trịnh Hoàng Giang, of Thanh Trì Ward, Hoàng Mai District, said that to make coach and train stations truly safe places and ensure smooth travel for people, the residents hoped that competent authorities would strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations.

“We also hope that information reported to the authorities' hotline about traffic order and safety will be received promptly and measures will be taken, helping each person's journey be comfortable and safe,” he said. — VNS