VASCO Expands Services

According to Mr Bui Ngoc Hoang, Director of Vietnam Aviation Service Company (VASCO), by August 2005, the company performed over 600 flights, carrying over 31,000 passengers and 1,200 tonnes of cargo. The company has co-operated with FedEx (USA) transporting freight between Ho Chi Minh city and Subic Bay (Philippines).

 

Currently, the company is flying HCMC-Ca Mau-HCMC four times a week and HCMC-Con Dao-HCMC three times a week by 64-seat ATR-72 planes. The new flights to Ca Mau and Con Dao are promoting trade and tourism and also help boost local socio-economic development.

 

The company has also participated in geographical, topography and navigation surveys, sowing seeds for forest development and conducting medical emergency services. Each year, the company conducts 240 flights (1,800 flight hours) transporting 2,000 tonnes of freight. To facilitate passengers, from September 2005, the company has served as an agent of Vietnam Airlines.

 

However, Mr Vu Duc Bien, Business Manager of VASCO, said that the company is permitted only short and domestic flights and has suffered losses, making business activities difficult. Evidently, the conditions must be improved for VASCO to play its role in the economy.