HÀ NỘI — National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has introduced new services on the Hà Nội-HCM City route to improve its domestic market share after the disruption of international flights due to COVID-19.

According to the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA), the Hà Nội-HCM City route is the world’s second-busiest route in terms of seat capacity, just after Seoul-Jeju in the Republic of Korea.

Twenty-five percent of the Vietnam Airlines Group’s passengers this year flew on the Hà Nội-HCM City route.

Noting the strategic role the route plays, Vietnam Airlines has worked to improve products and services to provide a more comfortable experience to passengers.

It has developed its wide-body aircraft fleet by adding 14 Airbus A350-900, 11 Boeing 787-9, and three Boeing 787-10 aircraft to serve the route and international flights to Europe and Australia.

A “dual brand” has been built between Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines to diversify products and services.

The Group has recently upgraded the Hanoi-HCM City route into a specialised product called the VNAXPRESS - HCM City air route to bring exciting experiences for customers.

A representative from the Group said the service allows customers to buy tickets 60 minutes before flights instead of 180 minutes as usual. If they arrive at the airport early, they can board earlier flights if there are seats available.

All flights on the route have boarding bridges while check-in counters are near the security gates to help passengers save time.

Passengers on Hà Nội-HCM City flights will also have the opportunity to experience four-star quality services, including wireless streaming, WIFI, VNA-FPT Play entertainment, E-reader, and food such as Vietnamese chả cá (grilled fish) and cá kho (stewed fish), Russian salad, and cheese egg rolls.

The Group provides 104,000 seats on the route, transporting 92,000 passengers each week, accounting for 98 per cent of the figures recorded at the same time last year and 57 per cent of the aviation market. — VNS