An aircraft is landing at Côn Đảo Airport. — Photo courtesy of VNA

Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, has announced it will increase flights to Côn Đảo Island off the coast of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province from April.

The plan aims to meet growing air travel demand during the upcoming summer holiday.

The carrier will operate 26 to 30 flights a day between HCMC and Côn Đảo, utilising ATR-72 turboprop aircraft. This represents an increase of nearly 50 per cent in flight numbers compared to the previous month.

The national flag carrier said the frequency of flights is to meet the increasing travel demand of passengers in the context of Bamboo Airways suspending its service from Hà Nội and HCM City to Côn Đảo from April after reaching a deal to terminate a lease contract on three Embraer E190 jets.

Bamboo Airways in September 2020 became the first airline to operate the Hà Nội – Côn Đảo route. Before that, only Vietnam Airlines and VASCO had routes from HCM City and Cần Thơ to the island using the short-range jet ATR72.

Last year, air travel accounted for 72 per cent of total tourist arrivals to Côn Đảo Island. In addition to air service, visitors can also reach Côn Đảo from Bà Ria-Vũng Tàu, Sóc Trăng and Cần Thơ by high-speed ferry. — VNS