Comprehensive inspection set for domestic flight prices

A 10 member inspection team from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), led by deputy director Do Hong Cam, has been established in accordance with the directives from the Ministry of Transport.

In case of any irregularities found, the CAAV is required to handle the violations promptly within its jurisdiction and report to the Ministry before May 10.

The aforementioned request is made in the context of the recent significant increase in domestic airline ticket prices, which directly affects the travel demands of the people, especially during peak periods such as the April 30 and May 1 holiday.

The CAAV is urgently requested to review and inspect ticket sales, as well as ensure the declaration, price listing, and transparent disclosure of information regarding airline ticket prices by the airlines.

The Vietnamese aviation market has witnessed significant fluctuations as some airlines have undergone restructuring and downsized their fleet scale.

Bamboo Airways, which previously had 28 aircraft, now only has a few remaining in operation after the restructuring. Pacific Airlines has returned all of its aircraft to clear its debts and no longer operates any aircraft.

Since the beginning of the year, engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has also initiated engine recalls for extensive inspections and repairs to address manufacturing defects. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, which have approximately 40 aircraft that use these engines, will have to suspend operations in 2024-2025 for maintenance purposes.

Director of the CAAV Dinh Viet Thang has stated that the shortage of aircraft is the reason behind the scarcity and higher prices of airline tickets during the peak summer season.

“It is forecast that it will take until the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027 for the Vietnamese airlines to complete the rectification of the faulty engines and resume normal operations. These factors will directly impact the transportation capacity, fleet size, and supply load on domestic and international routes in 2024 and 2025. According to our calculations for this year's peak summer season, the market will require approximately 24 million seats,” Thang said.

The CAAV has requested airlines to proactively plan for operations and develop contingency plans to address the shortage of aircraft due to suspensions.

Pivotal year for top transport entities It is going to be another tough year for state-owned transport giants like Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Vietnam Railways, and Vietnam Airlines, and all will need to take fresh measures to develop in the best direction.

Vietnam Airlines wipes out debt, posts record profit in Q1 Vietnam Airlines concluded the first quarter with a record net profit of over $179 million, putting an end to a streak of 16 consecutive quarters of losses.

A bumper summer for domestic tourism Overcrowding at airports and popular domestic destinations during the peak season for domestic tourism is familiar, but this year it is an increasingly serious problem.

Domestic tourism under threat from high flight costs The increase in the price of air tickets in March has sparked concerns about a potential decline in visitor numbers during the upcoming domestic peak tourist season.