VIETNAM Airlines (VNA) is pressing ahead with plans – launched last year – to become the second largest airline in South-east Asia by 2020.
VNA general director Pham Hong Minh said the flag carrier was able to exceed its 2010 target with a 34 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers. Total revenue grew to an estimated 36.3 trillion Vietnamese Dong (US$1.86 billion) based on the 12.3 million passengers recorded.
The airline has been steadily increasing its regional footprint, with its induction into the SkyTeam alliance last June helping to enhance its position in international and regional markets.
Late last year, VNA launched a thrice-weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Beijing service and a daily Narita-Ho Chi Minh City-Danang flight (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 24). This comes on top of 46 Hong Kong-Danang charter flights, operating November to May.
By Luat Tran
