Preparing to upgrade and expand but Ca Mau airport is deserted

Create all conditions but still no customers

Vietnam Airlines Corporation has officially reduced the frequency of flights from Ca Mau to Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa. It is expected to be restored on August 1 if the number of passengers is guaranteed.

In response to this incident, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province requested agencies, units and localities to study, grasp the content, and widely disseminate information to civil servants, public employees, workers and people about flight schedules and plans to operate the Ho Chi Minh City - Ca Mau route and vice versa of Vietnam Airlines Corporation to proactively arrange work and other necessary activities (if needed).

At the same time, according to assigned functions and tasks, proactively coordinate with the Ca Mau Aviation Services Company (VASCO) Branch, Ca Mau Airport and related units to increase promotion, coordination, support, and create favorable conditions for Vietnam Airlines Corporation to soon increase flights again and maintain flight frequency.

Ca Mau Airport, Ca Mau Province. Photo: Nhat Ho

Previously, in October 2023, the People's Council of Ca Mau province also approved an amount of over 7 billion VND to support airlines flying to Ca Mau. The support level for flight maintenance costs is equal to the ticket price of 10% of the total number of passenger seats of each type of aircraft, according to each actual flight. Support is 3 million VND/seat for flights over 1,000km; 2 million VND/seat for flights from 500km to 1,000km and 1.5 million VND/seat for flights under 500km.

Chairman of the People's Council of Ca Mau province Nguyen Tien Hai explained: "This is not a luxury as some critics have argued. Clearing traffic arteries, including air routes, is the key issue to revive the rapid and sustainable development of Ca Mau province."

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Hai, each year, the province spends no more than 7 billion to support airlines, but the benefit is for Ca Mau to attract tourists , potential investors, save working costs for staff, open up opportunities for cooperation, business, travel for people... If comparing the budget and the benefits, this resolution is very necessary, very suitable in the current context.

More pressure from the highway

A business in Ca Mau (name withheld) said that it is only urgent to fly from Ca Mau to Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, landing at Tan Son Nhat airport and then meeting a partner is not too difficult, but the procedures to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Ca Mau take at least 30 minutes. The travel time takes another 20 minutes, not to mention traffic jams.

The direct bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to his house only takes about 3 hours and he can go whenever he wants. According to the director of this company, traveling by car is still more convenient and proactive than traveling by plane.

Reducing the frequency of flights to and from Ca Mau - Ho Chi Minh City, Ca Mau province calls for people's support. Photo: Nhat Ho

In reality, the demand for people and businesses to travel by air to and from Ca Mau is not large. The completion of the Can Tho - Hau Giang - Ca Mau expressway will put great pressure on Ca Mau province's air transport. Because the travel time by road is much more convenient than before; passengers are more proactive than taking flights.

According to Vietnam Airlines Corporation, the flight frequency on the Ho Chi Minh City - Ca Mau route has been increased from 5 flights/week to 7 flights/week since October 2023. From the implementation of the frequency increase until March 2024, the average seat utilization rate reached 83%.

Ca Mau Airport. Photo: Nhat Ho

“Since April, the average seat utilization rate has only reached 68%, about 8-9 points lower than the same period last year, especially flights on Fridays and Sundays have an average seat utilization rate of only about 50%, not ensuring efficiency to maintain operations.”

Also according to the Corporation, from June 14 to July 31, the Corporation has reduced the frequency of flights on the Ho Chi Minh City - Ca Mau route on Fridays and Sundays, reducing from 7 flights/week to 5 flights/week and is closely monitoring the situation to restore 7 flights/week from August 1.

Ca Mau Airport is a level 3C civil aviation airport capable of receiving aircraft such as ATR-72, AN-2, MIA-17, KING AIR B200 and other aircraft with equivalent take-off weight.

According to the Master Plan of Ca Mau Airport for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, Ca Mau airport can ensure the reception of medium-range aircraft such as Airbus A321, A320, A319, Embraer 195... With a vision to 2050, Ca Mau airport will meet the capacity of 3 million passengers/year and at least 3,000 tons of cargo/year, the aircraft parking lot has at least 10 parking positions for Code C aircraft.

Source: https://laodong.vn/xa-hoi/chuan-bi-nang-cap-mo-rong-nhung-san-bay-ca-mau-vang-khach-1358445.ldo