Aeroplanes at Nội Bài International Airport. Domestic airlines are increasing the number of late night flights to meet increasing travel demand for the Tết holiday. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Hà

HÀ NỘI — Domestic airlines will add more night flights before, during and after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday to meet increasing passenger demand.

Nguyễn Quang Trung, head of Vietnam Airlines’ development planning department, said the national flag carrier was increasing late night flights during peak time, with the number of flights rising 30 per cent compared to the same time last year.

The move aims to meet growing air travel demand and ease ground congestion at airports, according to Trung.

Holiday airfares are 10 per cent lower than the previous year, and a wide range of flexible fares have been available for customers.

Vietnam Airlines Group, which operates Vietnam Airlines, budget carrier Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), said it would supply more than 414,000 extra seats from January 27 to February 26, 2021. This would bring the total seats on flights operated by the Vietnam Airlines Group during the traditional holiday to 2.4 million, equivalent to nearly 12,000 flights.

Vietnam Airlines has increased night flights from 0:00 to 5:30 everyday, with airfares sold at VNĐ200,000-VNĐ300,000 (US$8.69-$13.04) cheaper than those during the day.

Low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has added more flights departing late at 23:30 and early at 5:30, as well as provide 1.5 million Tết tickets on all domestic routes. It has recently opened sales for 1.5 million promotional airfares (from VNĐ555,000 including taxes and fees).

Bamboo Airways said it recently launched direct flights from Cần Thơ to Phú Quốc island, and Côn Đảo island in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province. The non-stop service will be operated during the week, using Embraer 195 aircraft. Special fares are available with one-way tickets priced from as little as VNĐ49,000.

Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Đinh Việt Thắng has issued a directive on enhancing safety measures for airplanes during maintenance downtime since the number of airplanes in maintenance during non-service period is increasing due to COVID-19.

He ordered airlines to keep a close watch and strictly follow airplane manufacturers’ instructions on maintenance. — VNS