Air travel to tourist destinations during the upcoming National Day holiday is expected to surge. Photo: Minh Chau
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, from August 30 to September 3, 2024, Vietnamese airlines will operate a total of 4,257 flights, averaging 840 flights per day. This represents a 3% increase compared to the previous holiday week and a 3.5% rise from the same period in 2023.
Of these, domestic flights will average 600 flights per day, a 5% increase from the previous holiday week and a 2.8% rise year-on-year. International flights will average 241 flights per day, a slight decrease of 2% from the previous holiday week but a 5.1% increase from 2023.
Focusing on domestic routes, the airlines have increased flights on the key North-South routes (connecting Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City) to an average of 241 flights per day, an 8% jump from the previous holiday week and a significant 14.9% surge year-on-year.
These routes remain the busiest in the country, with high flight frequencies not only during major holidays but also on regular days.
Airlines have also ramped up operations to domestic tourist destinations (such as Vinh, Binh Dinh, Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc) and from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to other localities. There will be an average of 171 flights per day to domestic tourist spots and 187 flights per day to other localities, reflecting increases of 2% and 4%, respectively, from the previous holiday week.
Due to a reduced fleet and the priority given to domestic operations for the National Day peak, there has been a slight decrease in the number of international flights operated by Vietnamese airlines (-2%). However, on tourist routes, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have increased their flight offerings, with an average of 27 flights per day, a 5% rise from before the holiday week and a substantial 95% increase year-on-year. There has been a minor reduction in the number of other international flights, averaging 213 flights per day, a 3% dip from the previous holiday week and a 0.8% decrease from 2023.
The additional flights during this holiday period, especially on domestic routes, have allowed Vietnamese airlines to boost seat supply.
It is estimated that over 600,000 seats will be supplied on domestic routes from August 30 to September 3, 2024, averaging 122,000 seats per day. This reflects a 5% increase from the previous holiday week and a 1.5% rise year-on-year. Tourist routes and the North-South routes will see the most significant increases in seat supply, with averages of 33,000 and 55,400 seats per day, respectively, representing a 6.8% jump from the previous holiday week and a 3% increase year-on-year.
Based on data from August 20, airfares during the National Day holiday are approximately 20% higher than regular pre-holiday rates. On the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route, the highest fare observed was around VND 2.6 million one-way for Vietnam Airlines, including a meal, an 8% increase from a week earlier (August 23). For the same time of day, Vietjet Air’s fare was about VND 2.3 million one-way, a 25% surge week-on-week.
On the Hanoi-Nha Trang route, fares ranged from VND 2.4 to 3.0 million one-way, a 24% increase from the previous holiday week. While fares tend to rise during the holiday period, these increases are mainly seen on the first and last days of the break. Mid-holiday fares remain relatively stable, similar to pre-holiday rates.
Compared to the peak season of April 30 and May 1, 2024, the National Day holiday fares are significantly lower, and they have maintained a steady pace throughout the summer. As a result, regular domestic airfares during this period are 40%-60% lower than the maximum regulated rate.
Passengers are advised to book early through the official channels of the airlines to secure their preferred fares. They may also consider traveling on early morning or late-night flights, which often offer more affordable options.
