VietNamNet Bridge – Transport companies of all kinds have made elaborate plans to accommodate the increasing demand for travel within the country during the approaching festival season, in particular for Tet, the lunar New Year.

This year most flights still have vacant seats, and at least 500 seats are available each day.

Viet said that in previous years, domestic flights from HCM City to Ha Noi and other provinces were fully booked; some had been sold out a few months earlier.

This year, however, most flights still have vacant seats, and at least 500 seats are available each day, according to Viet.

Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh, deputy general director of Jetstar Pacific Airlines (JPA), said that the budget carrier would also add two flights each day to its daily schedule from HCM City to Ha Noi.

Nguyen Huu Thuan, commercial director of Indochina Airlines (IA), said the airline currently was operating four flights each day between HCM City and Ha Noi, and two flights between HCM City and Da Nang.

If demand increases, IA will consider increasing the number of flights, according to Thuan.

Pham Ngoc Minh, general director of the Vietnam Airlines, said that the carrier would not increase air fares for the Tet season, nor charge any additional fees.

The national flag carrier will also implement a flexible fare policy, under which, from January 7 to 16, the one-way fare from Ha Noi to HCM City will be VND900,000 (US$53) and VND400,000 ($24) for a one-way ticket from Da Nang City to HCM City.

The IA has also said it would keep normal fares during the season, at VND17 million ($100) for a one-way ticket between HCM City and Ha Noi. The JPA said it would continue offering cheap tickets for flights between HCM City and Ha Noi, the cheapest being VND800,000 ($47).

Thuong Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Mien Dong (Eastern) bus station, said that the station would try to help passengers buy tickets and go immediately by rearranging spaces in front of ticket counters and selling tickets to passengers in order.

Officials at the Mien Tay (Western) coach station, meanwhile, said that the station would sell tickets to passengers from 3:3 am to 10pm on two days - January 20 and 21, 2009; and 24 hours a day between January 22 and 25, 2009.

The station also planned to sell tickets to those passengers who want to buy them in advance from January 5-20, they said.

It will increase the schedule by 140 trips and mobilise more staff to guide and serve passengers better.

Pham Minh Suong, deputy director of the Mai Linh Joint Stock Company which operates many long-distance coach trips, said the company would put an additional 15 coaches on peak days at the Mien Dong and Mien Tay stations.

Han Thi Yen, deputy director of the Kumho Samco Express Company, said that on peak days, the company would increase its trips, and even operate them 24 hours a day.

A representative of Hoang Long company, which provides high-quality coaches with berths, said the company planned to increase its services by 20 to 30 coaches on peak days.

(Source: Viet Nam News)