More seats added on surging travel demand

Vietnam Airlines Group alone recently unveiled that its member companies - Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Service Company (VASCO) – would add 610,000 seats to their schedules, equivalent to over 3,200 flights, up 35% and 29% respectively compared to the same period last year.

The seat increase is focused on major routes and key tourist destinations, including routes between Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and popular spots such as Da Nang, Can Tho, Phu Quoc, Hue, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Pleiku, Chu Lai, Dong Hoi, among others.

Notably, due to the rising demand for travel, family visits, and vacations during this major holiday period, the seat occupancy rate on several routes has already reached 70–80%, highlighting the need for airlines to ramp up capacity.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has forecast a sharp increase in air travel demand during the five-day holiday period. Accordingly, domestic airlines will operate over 7,500 domestic flights, averaging around 685 flights per day.

Compared to regular days, the number of flights will increase by more than 24%, and the number of available seats will rise by approximately 20%. Flights to and from Ho Chi Minh City account for the largest proportion, with over 460 flights per day on average. The Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route alone is expected to see 1,261 flights, offering about 305,000 seats for passengers.

Airfares going up on key routes

The CAAV has reported that airfare prices for the holiday period have surged significantly on many routes, even doubling compared to regular days.

Survey data on airfare prices for several flight routes shows that on the first day of the holiday (April 29), economy class tickets for the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route are currently listed between VND3.4 - 3.74 million (including taxes and fees). The highest one-way ticket price on the Hanoi – Phu Quoc route is around VND4.5 million (including taxes and fees).

The seat occupancy rate on several key domestic flight routes has reached between 85% and 103% on April 30, the second day of the holiday, signaling a widespread sold-out situation.

Some high-demand flight routes with significant booking rates include Hanoi – Hue (89%), Hanoi – Tuy Hoa (94%), Hanoi – Chu Lai (95%), Hanoi – Dong Hoi (103%), Ho Chi Minh City – Phu Quoc (87%), Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao (92.7%), and Ho Chi Minh City – Tuy Hoa (100%).

Currently, airfare to popular tourist destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc is rising by the hour. Many travelers have cancelled long-distance travel plans and opted for more budget-friendly alternatives.

Meanwhile, people planning to travel during the April 30 – May 1 holiday are still hunting for tickets, with some having to change their destinations or reschedule their trips due to the sudden surge in airfare prices and limited availability.

The CAAV has advised passengers to plan ahead and book tickets early to avoid running out of seats or having to pay excessive fares. At the same time, it has instructed airlines to increase flight frequencies on high-demand routes to better meet the surge in passenger travel.

Domestic airlines to increase flights during coming holiday period

VOV.VN - Vietnamese airlines have worked out plans to increase flights to meet the high travel demand during the upcoming five-day holiday period and the summer peak season of 2025, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.