Vietnamese airlines will have to learn to seize opportunities as well as counter challenges. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Vietnamese airlines will have to raise their game as the formation of the ASEAN Community will open up the regional air transport market to players from all member countries.

Vietnamese airlines will have to learn to seize opportunities as well as counter challenges.

Lai Xuan Thanh, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV), said the ASEAN Community, which would be officially realised at the end of this year, would form a unified air transport market that allowed airlines from all regional countries to operate on regional routes. This means competition will increase among the ASEAN members.

The unified aviation market would also require all member countries to bring their air safety and security regulations up to common ASEAN standards, he said, adding that this was not a great problem since Viet Nam's aviation sector has met ICAO standards.

The official said in order to seize the opportunities offered by a unified air transport market, Vietnamese airlines would have to raise their competitiveness and managerial capabilities.

The ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos, besides Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore, as well as Thailand and Viet Nam. — VNS