Foreign airlines race to open 'strange' routes to Vietnam

Opening unexploited routes or existing routes with shocking prices to Vietnam is an effective way of doing business for some foreign airlines.

Opening its first flight route from Da Nang to Bangkok in May last year, Bangkok Airways initially operated two flights a week. By February this year, the airline had increased the frequency to one flight a day.

“We have been very successful with the flight route to Da Nang, so this time we decided to open a flight route connecting Bangkok with Phu Quoc,” Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Deputy General Director in charge of business of Bangkok Airways, shared with Vietnamese press in a recent meeting.

The first direct flight connecting Vietnam’s top resort city and Thailand’s capital is scheduled to begin later this month. Bangkok Airways will operate a total of four round-trip flights departing from Bangkok on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays on a 70-seat ATR 72-600 aircraft each week.

This is the first Thai airline to operate direct flights to Phu Quoc Island. The airline aims to provide connecting flights for European, Thai, and Vietnamese tourists as well as participate in international passenger transport routes to Phu Quoc from long-haul flights of long-haul joint venture partners.

“The rapidly growing economy in Phu Quoc sees the potential for tourism demand from local and indigenous people, while Phu Quoc is currently considered a “paradise island”, attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world to visit every year,” commented Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya.

In 2016, Phu Quoc welcomed 1.45 million tourists. Mr. Songkrot Palakawong Na Ayuthaya - Communications Director of Bangkok Airways said that thanks to the 30-day visa exemption policy for foreign tourists, Phu Quoc is now considered one of the most famous tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, attracting a large number of European tourists every year, especially from Germany, England, France, Switzerland and Russia. That is also the reason why this airline wants to take advantage of the opportunity as a pioneer.

“Phu Quoc is now a new attractive tourist destination, attracting a large number of Southeast Asian and European tourists to visit and wish to return here every year. I believe this direct connection will bring long-term benefits to the sustainable development of the tourism industry in Thailand and Vietnam in the future,” Mr. Songkrot Palakawong Na Ayuthaya is optimistic.

New Zealand visitors to Vietnam increased by 119.5% in the first 7 months of the year.

Owns exclusive direct flight connectingAuckland – Ho Chi Minh City,Air New Zealand kdid not disclose specific results but confirmed that this route had two successful seasons in 2016 and 2017. Therefore, in 2018, the airline will operate two direct flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays every week connecting the two cities from June 23 to October 23, 2018.

Mr. Cam Wallace, Director of Sales and Commercial of Air New Zealand said that after experiencing the airline's direct flight to Vietnam in the 2016 flight season, passengers from New Zealand were very excited and interested in the destination of Vietnam.

“More and more tourists are embracing Ho Chi Minh City as a gateway to experience Vietnam. Demand for travel to Vietnam is particularly strong during the New Zealand school winter break in July. Vietnam is one of the most affordable destinations for New Zealanders. It is no surprise that Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination,” he added.

According to statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first 7 months of the year, the number of New Zealand tourists to Vietnam was 27,203, an increase of 119.5% over the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of Vietnamese tourists to New Zealand has also increased rapidly in recent years with more than 6,000 arrivals in 2016.

Several foreign airlines with more seniority in Vietnam have also continuously announced plans to open new routes. Coming to Vietnam in 2014 with the Hanoi - Incheon route, Jeju Air plans to open another route connecting Nha Trang with Seoul by the end of this year.

As for AirAsia, not long after opening the exclusive Kuala Lumpur - Nha Trang route, this airline decided to "join the battle" on the Ho Chi Minh City - Manila route with an average ticket price only about half of the ticket price of other airlines on this route. AirAsia's first Ho Chi Minh City - Manila flight is expected to take off next month.

According to VNE