Efficiently utilize flight routes at Vinh Airport.

(Baonghean) - Vinh International Airport is currently opening more flight routes to meet the travel needs of the people.

Currently, Vinh International Airport has 7 domestic routes including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat, Cam Ranh and Pleiku (Gia Lai) with a normal frequency of 16 flights/day by 5 airlines. In the first 6 months of 2016, the number of passengers passing through Vinh Airport reached nearly 1 million, an increase of 27.8% compared to the same period in 2015.

Checking baggage at Vinh International Airport.

One month ago, on June 8th, the direct Vinh - Bangkok flight route, a collaboration between Vietravel and the People's Committee of Nghe An province, officially launched. According to assessments, opening a direct flight to Bangkok is well-suited to the needs and preferences of the people, especially during the three summer months. The route operates with a frequency of one flight per month, using an A320 aircraft with 180 seats operated by Thai Vietjet. The price is also fixed, including round-trip airfare and a package tour provided by Vietravel.

Ms. Vo Thi Thu Hoai, Deputy Director of Vietnam Transport and Tourism Marketing Joint Stock Company - Vietravel Vinh Branch, said: Thanks to effective promotion and advertising, and Vietravel's promotional policy, at a price of VND 6,990,000 per person, tourists can enjoy professional services and visit and experience famous tourist destinations in Thailand... To promptly meet the demand for Thailand tourism from people in Nghe An and other North Central provinces, in July 2016, Vietravel organized 5 charter flights on July 9th, 13th, 17th, 21st, and 25th, and all flights were fully booked (180 seats/flight).

The opening of the new international flight route to Bangkok (Thailand) is making a positive impression on Vinh International Airport. Currently, there are five airlines operating there: Vietnam Airlines, Vasco, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, and Thai Vietjet. At peak times, Vinh Airport receives up to seven flights simultaneously, with 80 flight attendants working in shifts to provide attentive and thorough service to passengers, especially during peak hours at noon (12 PM) and in the evening (7-8 PM). Vietjet Air is the most efficient, with the highest number of passengers. From the beginning of the year until now, Vietjet Air has handled 186,000 passengers through Vinh Airport, with approximately 1,220 flights.

However, some routes, such as Vinh - Nha Trang (started in December 2015), have not attracted many airlines; only Jetstar operates them, and even then, the schedule is unstable, sometimes arriving in Nha Trang at midnight, which is very inconvenient for passengers. Furthermore, the Vinh - Bangkok route is seasonal, serving only tourists during the three summer months, and the return flight from Thailand to Vinh has not yet been fully exploited. The Vinh - Vientiane international route, which was highly anticipated due to the large Vietnamese population in Laos, has been shut down after less than a year of operation (since October 2015).

According to the leaders of Vinh International Airport, many new routes have been opened and are proving effective. They hope to receive support to open more domestic and international routes from Vinh to Can Tho, Vinh to Phu Quoc, Vinh to Singapore, Vinh to Taiwan, etc. To accommodate the growing number of passengers, Vinh International Airport needs to expand.

Vinh Airport has been approved by the Ministry of Transport to be upgraded to an international airport in the period from now until 2020 and with a vision beyond 2030 (Decision No. 347/QD-BGTVT dated January 29, 2015). Vinh Airport serves the socio-economic development, national defense and security of Nghe An province, the North Central provinces, and is a backup airport for Noi Bai Airport.

Complete the procedures at Vinh Airport.

Currently, the Provincial People's Committee is requesting the Ministry of Transport to facilitate investment in building additional aircraft parking positions, extending the runway, renovating the old domestic terminal into an international terminal; and replacing the current airport fence with a solid fence to ensure aviation safety.

To plan for upgrading and expansion, the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Transport need to develop a specific plan for the future Vinh International Airport, refrain from allocating land for factory or high-rise building projects near the airport area, reserve sufficient land for future airport expansion, and strengthen the role of the Port Authority in state management at Vinh airport...

Investing in good infrastructure is the foundation for developing existing flight routes, while also opening new routes to meet the travel needs of the people and serve the socio-economic development requirements of the area.

Thu Huyen