Vietnam Airlines increases frequencies and routes

VIETNAM Airlines is planning to expand international and domestic markets through increasing frequencies and opening new routes from now until 2010.

From Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Paris, the airline will increase frequency to 10 flights per week; to Frankfurt and Moscow, it targets daily flights.

Ho Chi Minh City-Los Angeles, Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City-Prague/London, Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City-Shanghai/Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City-Mumbai, and Ho Chi Minh City-Brisbane routes are to be introduced.

Around 10 new domestic routes are expected to be launched, with both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as the main hubs.

The airline's director of marketing planning department, Mr Trinh Ngoc Thanh, said the soaring oil prices had been challenging for all airlines in the world, including Vietnam Airlines.

He added: "Thanks to immediate and appropriate measures, we have been quite successful in minimising the effect. We see this difficult time as both a challenge and an opportunity; hence, no plans of expansion will be delayed."

The airline now serves 36 international and 25 domestic routes. It is also in the process of taking delivery of new aircraft to join its current fleet of 48 aircraft, which will be increased to 150 by 2020.