The number of airline passengers hit 58.7 million in the first 10 months of this year, a rise of 13.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

Passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport

The aviation sector handled a total of 373,000 flights in the period, up 10.4 percent from the previous year.

In October alone, it handled about 36,600 take-offs and landings, a year-on-year increase of 12.6 percent. Around 8.3 million travelers passed through Vietnam’s airports, representing a rise of 5.3 percent. 

Domestic airlines carried more than 3.9 million passengers in October, the CAAV added.

Earlier, CAAV Director Dinh Viet Thang said up to 105 million passengers are expected to pass through Vietnamese airports by the end of this year, surpassing the 100 million mark for the first time.

Last year, civil airports across the nation hosted more than 94 million passengers on 611,165 flights, 16 percent higher in the number of passengers and 10 percent higher in flights compared to 2016.

As many as 71 foreign airlines from 28 countries and territories across the five continents are operating regular international flights to Vietnam. They, together with three Vietnamese airlines - Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific Airlines - are operating 140 regular international routes and charter flights from/to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hai Phong, Da Lat, Can Tho and Dong Hoi.

In the domestic market, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Airlines’ affiliate Vasco are running 47 routes connecting Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City with 18 local airports.

The Vietnamese and foreign airlines also operate charter flights to and from Can Tho, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Dong Hoi depending on travel season.-VNA