Civil Aviation Authority requests airlines to report Lunar New Year flight plans

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has just sent a document to Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines and Vietravel Airlines regarding the operation plan and preparations for the peak period of the Lunar New Year 2024.

Accordingly, in order to proactively serve the travel needs of people, transport goods and ensure order and safety during the peak period of the Lunar New Year 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam requires Vietnamese airlines to report on market demand, operation plans, and demand for slot use (take-off and landing times) at airports during the peak period of the Lunar New Year 2024 (from January 25 to February 24, 2024, i.e. December 15 to January 15 of the lunar calendar).

In addition, the above units need to report plans to increase capacity on specific routes during the peak Tet period, including comparison and evaluation with the same period of the Lunar New Year 2023 and recommendations (if any) related to increasing capacity on routes during this period.

Previously, to meet the travel demand during the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin in 2024, from September 13, Vietnam Airlines Group (including 3 airlines Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO) announced the provision of 3 million seats on the entire domestic and international flight network, in the period from January 25 to February 24, 2024 (ie December 15, Quy Mao year to January 15, Giap Thin year).

Vietnam Airlines representative said the total number of seats provided on the entire flight network is approximately 15,000 flights, of which domestic is 2 million seats (10,300 flights), international is more than 1 million seats (4,650 flights).

According to the leader of Vietravel Airlines, based on the need to return home to reunite with family, visit relatives and travel during the Lunar New Year, Vietravel Airlines predicts that passenger travel demand during the 2024 Lunar New Year will increase compared to 2023.

“It is expected that the total number of passengers traveling by plane during the 2024 Lunar New Year will reach 10 million, an increase of 15% compared to 2023,” the leader of Vietravel Airlines predicted.

To meet the travel needs of passengers, Vietravel Airlines has planned to operate more than 100,000 seats on its entire domestic and international flight network from January 25 to February 24, 2024 (ie December 15, the year of the Cat to January 15, the year of the Dragon).

“Airfares for the 2024 Lunar New Year are expected to be higher than usual. However, Vietravel Airlines will still ensure that ticket prices are in accordance with the regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, and at the same time, the airline will launch promotional programs specifically for the Tet period,” said a leader of Vietravel Airlines.

Explaining the reason why Vietnam Airlines opened ticket sales early for Tet flights this time, a representative of Vietnam Airlines said that every year, Vietnam Airlines opens Tet ticket sales 5-6 months before the departure date, this is a practice that has been implemented for many years. Therefore, opening Tet ticket sales at the present time is not early.

In addition, airlines are technically allowed to open sales 330 days before the departure date. Opening sales for Tet at this time helps passengers and families plan and budget early, preparing for the biggest holiday of the year.

“We are also preparing to launch attractive promotions for alternate flight tickets so that customers can proactively choose and arrange their Tet holiday plans,” a representative of Vietnam Airlines confirmed.