The Vietnam
Civil Aviation Administration says the local airline market will recover this
year with a 15 percent growth as many carriers plan to increase flights from and
to Vietnam.
Vo Huy
Cuong, head of the administration's Aviation Transport Department, said the
market posted a growth of just 8.4 percent growth last year due to a sharp
decline in foreign arrivals.
But the
situation has improved this year with travel demand surging in the first two
months, he said.
Cuong said
the Aviation Administration has raised the growth forecast for 2010 from the
previous estimate of only 8 percent as market prospects have become brighter
than expected.
Many
international airlines have announced plans to add more flights to Vietnam this
summer. Jetstar AirAsia, for instance, said it would nearly double flights
between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City during the period from May to July.
National
carrier Vietnam Airlines is targeting an 18 percent increase in the total
passenger numbers this year and revenues of VND32 trillion, up 30 percent from
2009.
Vietnam
Airlines also plans to receive 16 new planes this year, expanding its fleet to
around 60 aircraft. The carrier is expanding its business in Japan and Myanmar.