Discussing solutions to overcome difficulties for Vinh - Vientiane flight route

(Baonghean.vn)- The low number of passengers is causing many difficulties for the Vinh - Vientiane flight route. The entire political system and agencies and departments of Nghe An province are determined to exploit this flight route effectively and develop it sustainably.

On the afternoon of July 3, the Provincial People's Committee held a working session with departments, branches, sectors, and tourism agencies in the area on exploiting the Vinh - Vientiane flight route. Comrade Huynh Thanh Dien, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting.

Comrade Huynh Thanh Dien chaired the meeting.

The Vinh - Vientiane flight route was launched in early 2014, with a frequency of 4 flights/week, opening up opportunities for Nghe An province to develop and promote economic trade, exchange, and strengthen solidarity and friendship between Nghe An province and Laos and northeastern Thailand.

Department of Transport leaders report on the exploitation of Vinh - Vientiane flight route

After 6 months of operation, the route is currently facing many difficulties due to the low number of passengers. Vietnam Airlines has canceled 27 flights. Since April 2014, Vietnam Airlines Corporation has reduced the flight frequency to an average of 3 flights/week, and at some points in May, it has reduced the average to 2 flights/week, even only 1 flight/week.

Faced with this situation, the Provincial People's Committee has issued many directives to find measures to support the maintenance and development of the Vinh - Vientiane flight route, but the effectiveness is still not high.

At the meeting, a representative of Vietnam Airlines said that the number of visitors from Nghe An province traveling through Laos still mainly chooses the road route for various reasons. In addition, many tourist groups, agencies and offices are still not interested in traveling to Laos, causing difficulties for the flight route. Currently, Vietnam Airlines is having to compensate for the loss of the flight, but for the long-term goal, the company is willing to accompany the province to develop the flight route such as reducing ticket prices and supporting tourist groups. In September 2014, the company will adjust the flight route from Hanoi - Vinh - Vientiane to the flight route from Da Nang - Vinh - Vientiane to attract more passengers.

Sharing the difficulties of the Vinh - Vientiane flight route, representatives of units such as the Association of Typical Enterprises, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Tourism Association, Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association said that there are certain difficulties in the process of accessing tickets at low prices. Many companies and many tourist groups have to buy tickets at high prices, the ticket sales policy is not really flexible. Tourism promotion is not effective, airport security staff as well as customs staff at Vinh airport are still mechanical and rigid when handling some situations, ...

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Huynh Thanh Dien emphasized that maintaining and developing the Vinh - Vientiane flight route is extremely important in the roadmap to turn Vinh airport into an international airport. This is the task of the entire political system, of all agencies and departments in the area. In the coming time, it is necessary to continue to promote tourism, connecting tours with tourist destinations in Laos and Thailand. The Provincial People's Committee will complete the Vinh - Vientiane flight route steering group; Departments, branches, and districts will continue to deploy working delegations to Laos via the Vinh - Vientiane flight route; Continue to request mechanisms to continue implementing ticket price promotion programs. Units and businesses in the area need to have specific programs to support the Vinh - Vientiane flight route...

Nguyen Khoa