Vietnam travel firm to halt pilot Can Tho-Bangkok service

The Can Tho-Bangkok service was launched on July 21 as a cooperation deal between leading Vietnamese tour organizer Vietravel, the Can Tho administration and Thai VietJet Air.

The last flight on the route, which has been operating on a trial basis to test market demand, is scheduled for today, August 6, and the service is hoped to resume around the Lunar New Year, falling on February next year, or the summer of 2016, according to a Can Tho tourism official.

Under the cooperation, Vietravel books 75 percent of the total 180 seats for every flight, whereas the Can Tho administration covers the remaining 25 percent.

“But Vietravel is now hesitant to keep the service going,” Nguyen Khanh Tung, director of the Can Tho tourism promotion center, said Wednesday.

Few tourists are taking trips to Thailand as summer is ending, and businesses are not confident enough to partner with Vietravel in exploiting this brand new service, he added.

“Can Tho leaders wanted to keep the service as local passengers are getting used to it,” Tung said.

“But in terms of doing business, they have been flying at a loss.”

Tung added that the travel firm and the carrier have plans to resume the Can Tho-Bangkok service during the coming Lunar New Year, or Tet, which falls on February 8, or even summer next year.

The service was offered every five days, with a single ticket costing VND2.69 million (US$124), and the Thursday flight is the fifth trip.

The previous flights enjoyed a seat occupancy rate of 93 percent, Tung said.

“But the August 6 flight is not fully booked, so the return flight from Bangkok will land in Ho Chi Minh City, instead of Can Tho, due to the small number of passengers,” the official added.

The Bangkok route is the first international service launched from Can Tho International Airport since its opening in 2011.

Located around 170km southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho is the economic hub and home to the largest airport in the Mekong Delta.