Passengers check in at a Vietnam Airlines counter. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

Vietnam Airlines has carried nearly 40,000 passengers on domestic routes since the beginning of 2020, an annual increase of 12 per cent.

The growth marks the national carrier's good recovery as the country has been able to contain COVID-19. It is attributable to the airline’s optimisation of its domestic flight network and fleet, the increase of frequency on several routes, promotional programmes, customer services, and disease prevention and control efforts.

The national flag carrier currently operates more than 40 domestic routes with close to 200 flights a day. Following positive developments in the fight against the pandemic, it has added more flights to routes between Ha Noi and seven localities - Vinh, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Tuy Hoa, Nha Trang, Da Lat, and Pleiku, and between HCM City and Da Nang.

It resumed six domestic routes in early September, including Ha Noi - Chu Lai, Ha Noi - Tuy Hoa, Vinh - Buon Ma Thuot, and Hai Phong - Dien Bien.

The carrier is working to resume international flights in line with Government directions and approval from foreign authorities. Resumption has already been seen on its route between Viet Nam and Japan, with South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia to follow shortly. — VNS