In August, there were 977,858 seats available on flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi making it the fourth busiest domestic air route in the world, according to data from OAG Aviation Worldwide. This is despite reports that Vietnam’s airlines were down to just 160 aircraft on the back of engine problems, lease defaults, and general fleet downsizing.
Air travel, particularly between these two metropolises, has become a very popular way of getting around Vietnam. This is in large part due to rising incomes that have put airfares within reach of Vietnam’s burgeoning middle class.
The local airline industry, however, has faced a number of challenges, particularly recovering from pandemic border closures which grounded most of their aircraft. Foreign investment and expertise could be one possible solution, however, investment in airlines in Vietnam is capped at 34 percent which can make influencing key decisions challenging.
See also: Vietnam’s Foreign Ownership Limits: Transport and Logistics