Vietjet eyes 90% load factor on new route

The low-cost airline witnessed the load factor at 86 per cent in the first week after launching the new service on October 2. It is the second to operate the direct flight between the two cities, after Vietnam National Airline. Travellers from Vietnam now reach Myanmar via Thailand and Singapore ports. 

“The new route from Ho Chi Minh City to Yangon will bring Myanmar and Vietnam people opportunities to visit and discover these two countries’ incredible culture and breathtaking landscapes. It will also increase mutual trade exchange and investment between enterprises and investors,” said Thi Thuy Binh, vice president for commerce and service.

Binh attributed the success to in-depth market research conducted three months before launching the service. She noted that the research showed that only a fraction of Myanmar people travel by air. The new route operates with five return flights per week. 

Binh believes that Vietjet’s fast-expanding network to potential destinations such as Yangon will help develop the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region. To her, the airline’s safe flights, high-quality services, affordable ticket pricing, and special surprises onboard will lead to passengers’ satisfaction.

The new route operates with five return flights per week. 

According to the executive, the airline looks forward to increasing the frequency and operate flights to new destinations in Myanmar, potentially Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. 

“Currently, we are operating 28 aircraft globally, and we will increase the number to 30 by the end of this year. We have signed a contract with Airbus to purchase more than 100 aircraft. From now on, we will receive one new aircraft every month,” she said.

Vietjet yesterday received the 29th aircraft. 

“We already put the competition with ourselves. We already put our target is our competitor. So we have to compete with our target which is that we try to carry more passengers as much as possible.”

To Binh, upgrading infrastructure should be the priority of the government for the further development of the aviation industry. She said it is necessary to upgrade services and tourism-related infrastructure- such as number of hotel rooms and tourist service centres in order to attract more visitors. The government’s plan to implement the Hanthawady international airport and upgrade existing airports can help international airlines expand more routes to new destinations.