International visitors to Hue by air

Cooperation to launch the use of night flight products

Recently, airlines in Vietnam such as Vietnam Airlines or VietJet have suspended many flights to provinces and cities due to faulty A321 engines. In 2024, engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (PW) had to recall engines for in-depth inspection and repair to fix manufacturing errors. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have about 40 aircraft using this engine, so they will have to stop operating in 2024-2025 for maintenance, starting from January 2024). Some airlines are restructuring and reducing the size of their fleets, leading to a shortage in flight supply.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Bay, Deputy Head of Passenger Trade Department - TCTHKVN Vietnam Branch in the Central region, said that the fleet of aircraft in the daytime time slot has been used up to 100%, including spare aircraft. The total number of aircraft currently supplied to the market has decreased by 20-25% compared to 2023. To cope with the shortage of supply due to engine recalls for maintenance, TCTHKVN is actively implementing solutions such as leasing engines, optimizing fleet rotation and especially arranging to operate more flights in the late evening time slot to serve customers. Adding more late evening flights is also a solution to help TCTHKVN introduce more reasonable and attractive prices for tourists right in the peak summer season of 2024. Flying late at night or early in the morning not only helps passengers save time and money but also avoids the crowds and stress of traffic.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates all days of the week with a time frame ranging from early morning to late evening, to be able to serve the maximum needs of customers. Along with operating more night flights, Vietnam Airlines also deploys additional preferential prices on these night flights. These prices are currently 25-30% lower than the low-cost prices during the day, but up to 60-65% lower than the highest prices that Vietnam Airlines is selling, and these prices do not exceed the price ceiling regulations.

In order to strengthen cooperation, Vietnam Airlines has proposed that the Department of Tourism launch a campaign for tourism service providers (accommodation establishments, restaurants, ground transportation, etc.) to join in developing a package of products combining air tickets, which can be free or discounted by over 70% for the first night, provided that customers use Vietnam Airlines' night flights and must stay at least 3 nights. Vietnam Airlines will publish a list of partners (accommodation establishments, partners, provinces, etc.) on Vietnam Airlines' specialized pages to promote together...

Ms. Le Thi Da Lam, General Manager of Pilgrimage Village Resort, assessed that the cooperation between the tourism industry and Vietnam Airlines to encourage tourists to use night flights not only solves the shortage of flights to serve tourists, but also creates opportunities for the tourism industry; including hotels and units operating passenger transport services to Hue. However, depending on the situation of the hotels, there should be flexible product packages suitable to each unit's policies...

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that according to the plan, this cooperation will last until the end of August 2024. After that, TCTHKVN will evaluate that if it is effective, it will continue to be maintained. Increasing the number of night flights also targets the flow of independent travelers, early and late business travelers, and guests with urgent matters... Especially the needs of Inbound guests (foreign guests coming to Vietnam for tourism and short-term stay, or Vietnamese people living abroad returning to visit their homeland), guests returning from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City often travel during this time frame. This is a condition to increase the number of visitors to Hue, and hotels will seize the opportunity to serve accommodation needs.

Increase cooperation opportunities

The demand for travel during the peak summer season is very high. In fact, Vietnam Airlines has cooperated comprehensively with 8 provinces and cities nationwide to launch a package combining air tickets and hotels at attractive prices, to stimulate tourists to use night flights.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, as of July 8, 2024, 16 tourist accommodation establishments in the area have registered to participate with a reduction of 20% to 100% of the room rate for the first night according to the listed price, from the second night the listed price is applied or a 60% reduction according to the listed price. Among them, there are hotels that reduce the room rate by 100% for the first night, from the second night the room rate is calculated at 100% or reduce the room rate by 49% for the first night, from the second night the room rate is reduced by 53%...

Passengers using night flights will also impact the development of night services. Director of the Department of Tourism Nguyen Van Phuc said that this is an opportunity for units to strengthen cooperation and create common benefits. In particular, hotels should cooperate with service units to provide services, from cuisine to night entertainment services. Travel agencies also connect to have more night tour programs, explore Hue at night, and preferential packages for tourists.

The tourism industry and businesses also believe that Hue City should have more night-time service activities, with unique forms, suitable to local conditions and culture, thereby attracting visitors to stay and experience.

Article and photos: HUU PHUC