Soaring Number of Passengers during Tet, Vietnam Airlines Reports

Soaring Number of Passengers during Tet, Vietnam Airlines Reports 

The country''flag carrier Vietnam Airlines reports soaring number of passengers during Tet holiday to 18,000 – 19,000 per day compared to around 14,000 in ordinary day. The  Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi route reportedly received 4,400 passengers per day at peak days of Tet, 2.5 times higher than ordinary days which usually carries about 1,800-2,000 per day. A large number of travellers often move from the South to the North before Tet and vice versa after Tet.  

The Vietnam Airlines Corporation has prepared for the country's most important holiday since early October 2004 with services increasing two folds compared to other days of the year, focusing on trans-Viet routes and between big cities like Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.

By this time, a contingent plan for increasing flights in the first quarter of 2005 has also been prepared thoroughly. The corporation has used 38 planes, setting up detailed plans on routes and staff in Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City to ensure smooth and time-saving transport of passengers. 

From January 24 to February 28, Vietnam Airlines raised an additional 615 flights, of which 212 were on the Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route and 145 in Ho Chi Minh City-Danang-Ho Chi Minh City route.

Thanks to thorough preparation, transportation was maintained smoothly, and despite some foggy days in Hanoi, no jams were reported as had occurred on previous occasions.

• Kim Phuong