VietNamNet Bridge - Opening direct air routes is a trend being followed by the world’s air carriers and Vietnam’s.

There are big changes in the production cost structure in the air transportation industry because airlines have to renovate to cope with challenges, including aviation safety improvement, fuel savings and production cost control.

In October 2013, Etihad Airways opened a direct air route between HCM City and Abu Dhabi in UAE.

Providing daily direct flights between the two countries mark a new business trend of the air carrier. It then affirmed the efficiency of the air route with A380 aircraft, 37,000 seats offered every week and 9,500 tons of cargo on every flight. 

Vietnam's VietJet Air was described as ‘lightfooted’ when it successfully inked an agreement with the partner on the opening of the Vietnam-Vladivostok direct air route in June 2011.

However, VietJet Air’s plan to connect the air route with other South East Asian countries has not succeeded as expected because it had to share passengers with Transaero Airlines.

The Russian air carrier took a wise move when opening the Cam Ranh – Domodedovo air route in early November 2014, which allowed it to fully exploit the regional market, with 10 flights per day and 200 passengers per flight.

The moves by VietJet Air and Transaero Airlines are believed to be an important cause that affected business performance of Vietnam Airlines, the national flag air carrier, in 2014.

A report of the Ministry of Transport showed that in May and June 2014 alone, Vietnam Airlines lost VND2.88 trillion in revenue due to the sharp fall in the number of passengers on some air routes, including ones between Vietnam and Russia.

More recently, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Preeti Saran on May 19 met Vietnamese Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang, discussing the opening of the direct air routes between the two countries.

Local newspapers reported that Thang, at the meeting, affirmed that it was feasible to implement direct flights as the two governments agreed between the localities of the two countries, which are 4-5 flying hours from each other.

After the meeting, Vietnam Airlines said that it was working on a plan to open a direct air route between HCM City and Mumbai this winter.

Vietnamese airlines have been advised to follow African air carriers to open direct air routes between Vietnam and the continent. 

Kenya Airways is the first African air carrier opening a direct air route between Nairobi and Hanoi in its strategy to connect Africa and Asia.

DNSG