Flight Ticket Market to be “Lively” During the 2024 Lunar New Year

DNHN - The Lunar New Year is when people return to their hometowns to reunite and visit relatives. Therefore, the travel demand is increasing, and the flight ticket market during this time is predicted to be more “lively” and “bustling” than ever.

High Demand for Flight Tickets During the Lunar New Year

Recently, the flight ticket market during the Lunar New Year has become an important part of the tourism and transportation industry. The demand for travel during this period is high due to the need to return to hometowns and travel during the holiday. This creates a significant strain on the aviation system in terms of providing enough flight tickets for passengers.

Over the past time, the Vietnamese aviation industry has made remarkable progress. Major airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways have continuously expanded their networks and increased flight frequencies. This meets the increasing demand of passengers during the Lunar New Year. In addition, the competition among airlines also creates diversity in prices and services, benefiting consumers.

During the Lunar New Year, airfares tend to increase due to increased demand and limited supply. Booking tickets in advance and choosing flexible flight times will allow customers to purchase tickets at a better price. In addition, airlines often have promotional policies and offers during this period to attract customers.

To meet the increasing demand for flight tickets during the Lunar New Year, airlines have made efforts to add more flights, increase frequencies, and expand flight networks to popular destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and the Mekong Delta provinces. At the same time, the application of information technology and online booking systems makes it more convenient for users to purchase tickets and manage flight information.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that it had sent a document to the Vietnam Airports Corporation, the airports of Dong Hoi, Phu Cat, Chu Lai, Tuy Hoa, Tho Xuan, Vinh, Pleiku, and Vietnamese Airlines regarding the operation of night flights during the peak period of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon in 2024.

It is expected that the demand for night-time operations during the Lunar New Year of the Dragon in 2024 (from January 21 to February 25, 2024, from 9 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) will reach more than 1,800 flights, accounting for about 8% of the total number of domestic flights operated on the entire network.

Vietnam Airlines said that it has added more than 100,000 seats, equivalent to nearly 550 flights, bringing the total to 2.1 million seats with 10,700 flights for the peak Tet season.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways will also increase its supply capacity by over 20% during the peak period, focusing on increasing the frequency of operations on the main trunk routes Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang, and local routes with high demand such as Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong.

In addition, Bamboo Airways also increases night flights on the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi, Vinh, and Da Nang routes. From now until January 16, customers who purchase tickets for 2 or more passengers will receive a 5% discount applied to all domestic routes and all fare classes of the airline.

Vietravel Airlines also announced that it will increase night flights by 3 flights/day on the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi route. The average occupancy rate on the airline’s routes is over 89%, of which the Ho Chi Minh City - Quy Nhon, Da Nang routes near Tet have an occupancy rate of over 97%.

Booking Early Will Be Cheaper

Speaking to Doanhnghiephoinhap.vn, Ms Vu Thi Thanh Binh (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City), originally from Hai Phong City, said that she had recently moved to Ho Chi Minh City to work, but she realised that booking tickets to return home for the New Year with her family was very important. So, from the beginning of October of the lunar calendar, she booked a ticket for the Ho Chi Minh City - Hai Phong route for VND 2.8 million.

According to Ms Binh, booking tickets early helps to be proactive with time and not worry about the price. Previously, I worked in Hanoi but often booked tickets for my siblings in the family to return home for the New Year, so I also have some experience with time.

According to a survey of airline websites, we recorded the round-trip airfare for the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi route departing on February 8, 2024 (29th of December) and returning on February 14, 2024 (5th of January) of Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways in most time slots are around VND 7 million/ticket and Vietjet’s airfare is VND 6.4 million/ticket.

Similarly, for the Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh route, Vietjet’s airfare is VND 5.6 million, Bamboo Airways is VND 7.1 million, and Vietnam Airlines is VND 8.2 - 9 million. The flight from Hanoi - Phu Quoc during Tet, the cheapest ticket is also up to VND 7 million/ticket (including taxes and fees).

Not only are airfares for Tet 2024 skyrocketing, but customers also have fewer ticket options compared to last year. Not to mention that some flights before Tet have started to run out of tickets, such as Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang on the days near Tet of Vietnam Airlines have run out of economy class tickets, leaving only business class.

Ms Nguyen Thi Thuong (Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) said that to have tickets to return to her hometown of Nghe An to celebrate the New Year with her family, she had to book tickets since November, with the Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh route priced at VND 2.5 million.

According to Ms Thuong, due to the high demand for travel during Tet, if you do not book tickets early, it will be difficult to get tickets. For many years, I had to switch to other means of transport to return home to celebrate the New Year with my family. If you are not proactive, it will be very difficult to travel.

The flight ticket market during the 2024 Lunar New Year is predicted to be lively and bustling. The development of the Vietnamese aviation industry and the efforts of airlines have met the increasing demand for passengers during this period. Although airfares tend to increase, customers can take advantage of promotional policies and book tickets early to have the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discounted price. Measures such as expanding the flight network, increasing flight frequencies, and applying information technology also help to meet the demand for flight tickets during Tet effectively.

The Lunar New Year is when people want to return to their hometowns, reunite, and visit loved ones. The flight ticket market during this period not only meets the travel needs of Vietnamese people but also attracts the attention of international tourists who want to experience the traditional Tet atmosphere in Vietnam.

Nhan Ha