Vietnam expects the number of air passengers to double to 32.4 million by 2020, contributing to the annual growth of aviation sector of between 11 per cent and 14 per cent by the year, the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism has said.
The aviation industry also aims to handle 0.8 million tons of cargo in 2020, the ministry noted.
At present, the annual number of 14.5 million passengers, Vietnam’s four airlines need to expand their fleet to between 140 and 150 aircraft by 2020, and raise the capacity of the country’s airports by four folds by then, the ministry said.
National carrier Vietnam Airlines and an aircraft leasing firm signed last Friday contracts with European plane-maker EADS to buy ten Airbus 350-900XWB passenger jets and 20 single-aisle A321 jets, with the first delivery scheduled for July 2012.
Unlisted Vietnam Airlines, pressed to keep up with growing tourism and trade demand as the domestic economy grows at more than 8 per cent a year, said it planned to expand its fleet to 110 by 2020, including 74 planes from Airbus.
Last month, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners were in demand with Vietnam Airlines buying four of the model and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. buying eight of the planes.
Three other airlines in Vietnam are Pacific Airlines (which is 30 per cent owned by Qantas Airways Ltd.), VASCO and VietJet Air (which is set to become the country’s first fully private airline).
The government has said it would license more private carriers in the next five years to meet the growing demand.
Currently, arrivals coming to Vietnam by air posted highest rate.
Vietnam, one of the 20 best travel destinations in 2007, welcomed more than 3.8 million international tourist arrivals in the first eleven months of this year, posting an on-year increase of 17.1 per cent.
Vietnam is looking to welcome 4 million-4.4 million foreign visitors and 19 million-20 million domestic tourists, earning total revenue of VND56 trillion, or US$3.5 billion this year. (Young People)
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