VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has not restricted air carriers from ASEAN opening direct international air routes to provide both commercial passenger and specialized cargo flights, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has said.

Chief Representative of China Southern Airlines, Cui Heng, said the air carrier has opened the air route to carry international travelers from Guangdong, China to Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa province of Vietnam, and it is considering providing flights to Phu Quoc Island.

The representative said at a meeting between 23 international air carriers in Vietnam and CAAV’s officials in early August that he wants to get necessary information to draw up a plan to provide direct flights there as soon as possible.

Phu Quoc is an attractive destination for Chinese travelers, he said.

In reply, CAAV said the infrastructure is ready for airlines to open direct air routes to the island. 

Meanwhile, the air carriers flying to Phu Quoc Island will be able to enjoy very attractive preferences in airport service fee for a long time, while the 30-day visa waiver will be applied to travelers.

“We encourage international air carriers to fly to Phu Bai (Hue City), Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa province), Lien Khuong, Can Tho and Phu Quoc,” said Bui Minh Dang, deputy head of CAAV’s air transport division.

Dang said the airports all are capable of receiving large-size aircrafts, while airlines will enjoy preferential service fees.

He said that Vietnam was pursuing the policy not to restrict ASEAN international airlines to open direct air routes. 

The exploitation of air routes will be implemented in accordance with the commitments made by Vietnam and ASEAN countries, while Vietnam commits to minimize barriers to facilitate air carriers’ business. 

According to CAAV, 45 international airlines and three Vietnamese airlines now exploit the air routes from/to 25 countries with 83 air routes are under operation that connect 47 international destinations to Vietnam’s Hanoi, HCM City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc Island.

A report showed that in the first six months of 2015, international and Vietnamese airlines carried over 20 million passengers, an increase of 19 percent in comparison with the same period of 2014.

Song Ju Seok from Jeju Air said the airline plans to open a direct air route from Incheon in South Korea to Da Lat City in Vietnam, hoping that the preferences promised by the government of Vietnam would help exploit the route in a more effective way.

However, airlines complained the entry/exit procedures applied at the Tan Son Nhat Airport are complicated and inconvenient.

In many countries, passengers can complete boarding procedures from their mobile devices, but not in Vietnam.

Dat Viet