Vietnamese Airlines Boost Flights in Preparation for Tet 2026 Peak Season

Vietnam’s aviation industry is gearing up for a bustling peak season, culminating in the Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the cumulative passenger volume for the first nine months of 2025 reached an estimated 64.1 million, marking a 10.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Domestic flights accounted for 29 million passengers, while international routes served 14.7 million.

Forecasts predict a 10-15% surge in travel during the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday (February 14-22, 2026), prompting airlines to proactively expand their capacity and launch Tet ticket sales.

Leading the charge, Vietnam Airlines Group and Vietjet Air have collectively released over 6 million seats to meet the holiday demand. Vietnam Airlines Group, encompassing Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO, has announced the early release of 3.5 million seats across its domestic and international network, a nearly 20% increase from last year. Their peak period spans from February 2 to March 3, 2026 (15th day of the 12th lunar month to the 15th day of the first lunar month).

Key routes focus on major cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and destinations such as Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Quy Nhon, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc. Seat capacity on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route has increased by nearly 18%, while the Ho Chi Minh City-Da Nang route saw a 9% rise. Routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Hue have expanded by 9-13%. To optimize operations, Vietnam Airlines Group has scheduled more flights during late-night and early morning hours, with night flights accounting for nearly 20% of the total. The group is also enhancing international routes to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore, catering to the growing trend of holiday travel.

Vietjet Air has also launched early sales of 2.5 million tickets for the period from February 3 to March 2, 2026 (16th day of the 12th lunar month to the 13th day of the first lunar month). Meanwhile, Vietravel Airlines is actively preparing for the peak season by adding an Airbus A320 with 180 seats, operational from October 26, 2025. The airline has increased the frequency of Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi flights to six daily and resumed daily Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok flights from October 26. Vietravel Airlines plans to offer 8,000-10,000 seats for the 2026 Lunar New Year, focusing on Ho Chi Minh City departures before Tet and return flights afterward. Tet fares start at 868,000 VND per ticket (excluding taxes and fees). The airline also offers 1,000 VND tickets for off-peak flights, along with a 100,000 VND voucher for the next purchase. Vietravel Airlines has already recorded strong early Tet ticket sales in October, with revenue and passenger numbers surpassing last year’s figures.

Bamboo Airways is contributing an additional 350,000 seats across its domestic network. The airline has also introduced new flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Vinh, starting February 2, 2026, to accommodate the increased travel demand during the holiday season.

To ensure smooth operations and manage the high passenger volume, the CAAV has adjusted the slot allocation parameters for takeoffs and landings at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. During the 2026 Lunar New Year peak period (February 2 to March 3, 2026), the airport will handle 46 flights per hour from 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM and 42 flights per hour from midnight to 5:59 AM. Previously, during the 2025 winter peak season (October 26, 2025, to February 2, 2026), the airport managed 44 flights per hour during the same daytime hours. This increased slot capacity, combined with airlines’ expanded night flight schedules, is expected to optimize operations, reduce airport congestion, and ensure a seamless travel experience for passengers during the Tet holiday.