Vietnam
Airlines will charge more for domestic flights starting next Wednesday, the
national carrier said Monday.
The new
price system takes into account higher oil prices and the dong devaluation, the
airline said.
It said
earlier that despite the hike, the carrier would offer discount tickets
depending on routes and seasons.
There will
be 14 levels of prices, including those for business and economy classes, and
for people going on tours. Thus people will actually be able to buy tickets at
cheaper rates than the cap prices, which were raised Monday.
The busiest
route between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has the cap price of VND1,818,000
(US$97,45) a ticket but Vietnam Airlines passengers can buy the cheapest ticket
at VND860,000, depending on the flight time.
The prices
do not include value added tax which is 10 percent at Vietnam Airlines and the
low-cost Jetstar Pacific Airlines, up from the 5 percent in 2009.
A
representative from Vietnam Airlines said they have delayed the new prices until
after the Tet high travel demand so as not to affect people's vacation
plan.
Vietnam
domestic flight price caps took effect Monday after the Ministry of Finance
approved the plan by the Ministry of Transport.