Air carriers are prepared for busy end-of-year holiday travel. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Air carriers said they are prepared for busy end-of-year holiday travel as the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tết) approaches.

Vietnam Airlines Group, comprising Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), plans to fly up to 2.1 million passengers between January 25 and February 24, with nearly 550 flights added during the period.

The increased flights mainly connect HCM City and Hà Nội with Đà Nẵng, Hải Phòng, Vinh, Thanh Hóa, Huế, Đà Lạt, Cần Thơ, Nha Trang, Phú Yên and Phú Quốc.

Bamboo Airways has leased two more Airbus A320/A321 aircraft, raising its capacity by over 20 per cent from January 1.

Vietravel Airlines said it has considered appropriate airfares during the holiday while coordinating with aviation authorities to increase the frequency of flights with high travel demand.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV) issued a document allowing night flights during the Tết holiday, and asking air carriers to take actions to minimise flight delays and cancellations, and intensify control to ensure aviation safety.

The CAAV also urged ground and aviation service providers to develop specific plans and measures to ensure the capacity to provide services during the holiday, and ensure sufficient resources and equipment to serve flights in accordance with airlines' operation plans.

Hà Nội-HCM City becomes world’s 4th busiest domestic air route

The Hà Nội-HCM City air route recorded more than 10.8 million seats sold between October 2022 and September 2023, making it the fourth busiest domestic air route in the world in 2023, according to statistics from air travel data provider OAG.

It ranked behind the Jeju-Seoul route in the Republic of Korea, the Fukuoka-Tokyo Haneda and Sapporo New Chitose Apt-Tokyo Haneda routes in Japan.

In 2023, Việt Nam's air transport market, especially the domestic market, recovered nearly to the pre-pandemic level. For the international market, the recovery was slower but showed many positive signs.

Particularly, in the domestic market, HCM City continued to lead the country in the number of visitors, revenue and contribution to Việt Nam's tourism industry as it received nearly 5 million international tourists and nearly 35 million domestic ones in 2023. — VNS