VietNamNet Bridge – The low-cost airline AirAsia has lifted fuel surcharges while the full-serviced air carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has launched all-inclusive fares for services from Vietnam and other parts of the world.

“This ‘No More Fuel Surcharge’ initiative recognizes the current economic situation and the need to provide more affordable air fares,” Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer of AirAsia Group, said in a statement.

“With the current economic uncertainties, we understand how important low cost travel is to the people and the economies of ASEAN countries,” Fernandes said. “By abolishing our fuel surcharges, our low fares will stimulate new demand and boost tourism.”

Bui Duc Hanh, Hanoi station manager of Thai AirAsia - a member of AirAsia Group, said passengers would save US$25-32 per sector if they traveled on the carrier’s daily flights from Hanoi and HCMC to Thailand’s Bangkok and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur.

“The savings are significant,” Hanh told the Daily on Tuesday. AirAsia is also offering 500,000 free seats for guests to book on www.airasia.com from today until November 16 for travel between June 22 to October 24 next year on its flights to all destinations.

Malaysia Airlines has yet to remove its fuel surcharges but applies its All-Inclusive Low Fares program to all destinations in ASEAN, including Vietnam.

The all-inclusive low fares mean customers will know upfront the total amount they have to pay for the promotional fares including taxes, surcharges and fees.

“The wide variety of extra charges in recent years, and the fact that they now form a greater part of the total price, has led to consumer demand for all-inclusive pricing,” Idris Jala, managing director and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Jala said Malaysia Airlines was slashing Everyday Low Fares by a further 50-73% on domestic and ASEAN destinations. “So we are able to offer All-Inclusive Low Fares.”

Terence Swampillai, area manager of Malaysia Airlines in Vietnam, told the Daily that two million low-fared seats were on offer for the carrier’s flights worldwide.

The all-inclusive fares start from US$57 for a single trip on Malaysia Airlines flights from HCMC to Kuala Lumpur, and from US$74 from Hanoi to the Malaysian city.

These promotional fares are much lower than normal fares, which start from US$250 for a single HCMC-Kuala Lumpur trip and from US$180 for the Hanoi-Kuala Lumpur trip.

Australian destinations like Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane are also covered under this promotion. The lowest fare starts from US$240 nett for a one-way trip between HCMC and Perth, and from US$257 nett for the Hanoi-Perth route.

The all-inclusive low fares must be booked at www.malaysiaairlines.com between now and November 30 for travel between January 4 to July 31 next year for all the destinations excluding Australia, as the travel period to Australia is from April 15 to July 31 next year.

Low fares are only offered on lean flights and are non-refundable. The flight dates cannot be changed.

* Vietnam Airlines has announced plans to operate more domestic flights during the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, to meet the surging demand for air travel in the festive season.

Vietnam Airlines plans an additional 832 flights between Hanoi and HCMC, and HCMC and Danang from January 10 to February 9 next year, the airline said in a statement.

As scheduled, the national flag carrier will add 430 flights between Hanoi and HCMC, and 402 flights between HCMC and Danang. The additional seats will be 110,000 for the first route and 73,000 for the second.

The carrier expects the daily number of seats will grow 53-97% on peak days for the Hanoi- HCMC run, and climb up to 117-200% for the HCMC-Danang run compared to normal days.

The additional seats for the coming Tet holiday are 33% higher on the flights between Hanoi and HCMC and 36% on the HCMC-Danang route than the number of extra seats on the same routes respectively during the previous Tet.

The last Tet saw Vietnam Airlines operating 318 more flights between Hanoi and HCMC, and HCMC and Danang, with a daily number of 3,600-5,900 seats for the first route and 1,200-1,700 seats for the second route.

(Source: SGT)