Vietnam to Strengthen Air Links with New ASEAN Members

Vietnam to Strengthen Air Links with New ASEAN Members

Vietnam will strengthen its air links with the three new members of ASEAN, including Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, in order to promote air transport, cargo services and tourism among these countries, according to a recent three-day meeting in Phnom Penh.

Accordingly, the four countries agreed to open direct air links between Myanmar and the three other member countries.

Airlines operating in the four countries were asked to conduct market surveys to assess the possibility of the proposal.

The cooperation will help develop these countries’ aviation industries and revenues and bring more benefits for them.

"Our four are making efforts to strengthen the cooperation on civil aviation industry in order to integrate our civil aviation into our other members," said Sinn Chansereyvutha, director of planning and policy at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia.

Vietnam’s aviation sector transported more than five million passengers and 87,500 tons of goods last year, up 24.6 per cent and 14.4 per cent on-year, respectively. Its revenues were put at US$1.1 billion in the year, up 16 per cent against 2003,

Vietnam currently has two airlines, including State-run national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines. They are operating six Boeing 777s, four Boeing 767s, two Boeing 737s; 19 Airbus A310s, A320s, and A321s; nine ATR 72s and two Fokker 70s.

The country accommodates 15 domestic and 23 international air routes, with 22 air carriers from 19 countries flying to Vietnam. In addition, nearly 100 carriers transit in Vietnam's flight information regions (FIR) of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

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