It is important to maintain air routes to Can Tho: expert

Vietnamnet – 01/03/2019   15:52 (GMT+07:00)

Dr. Tran Huu Hiep, an economic expert, has stressed the importance of the effective operations of air routes to Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of the same name, rather than launching many services and then stopping them.

Dr. Tran Huu Hiep, an economic expert, has stressed the importance of the effective operations of air routes to Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of the same name, rather than launching many services and then stopping them.

 

A view of Can Tho International Airport

 At a recent meeting in Can Tho, Le Tien Dung, director of the municipal Department of Transport, said that local budget air carrier Vietjet was set to open four new domestic air routes to Can Tho, while Asia's largest low-cost carrier AirAsia would launch two international air services to the city in the next three months.

Hiep told the Saigon Times that these new air routes would certainly help utilize Can Tho International Airport, which is operating at only 30% capacity.

However, it is more important to ensure the long-term operations of these services, Hiep said, adding that the job involved multiple factors, including connections with other routes.

He also stressed the importance of the competent agencies’ support in operating these routes and connections with other modes of transport.

Specifically, roads from Can Tho International Airport to neighboring provinces should be developed and upgraded, Hiep added.

The development of the city’s economy, particularly the tourism sector, also helps maintain air routes to the city’s airport. Therefore, the city should seek ways to boost its tourism development.

As for new air routes to Can Tho, Dung said Vietjet will open air routes between Can Tho and Haiphong City, Nghe An Province’s Vinh City, Lam Dong Province’s Dalat City and Thanh Hoa Province’s Tho Xuan District, with a frequency of seven, three, four and four flights per week, respectively.

Meanwhile, AirAsia has plans to introduce air routes from Can Tho to Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur and Thailand’s capital of Bangkok.

On the Can Tho-Kuala Lumpur route, the carrier will operate four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, starting from April 8. With a flight time of nearly two hours per leg, the flights will depart from Kuala Lumpur at 7:55 a.m. and from Can Tho at 9:20 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Can Tho-Bangkok route will be officially opened on May 2. Three flights will be operated on the route per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

It will take one hour and 40 minutes to fly between the two cities. The flights will depart from Bangkok at 11:20 a.m. and from Can Tho at 1:30 p.m.

In addition, the newly established carrier Bamboo Airways will launch a Can Tho-Hanoi service, with a frequency of one flight per day.

https://vietnamnet.vn/en/it-is-important-to-maintain-air-routes-to-can-tho-expert-E218837.html