National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is one among three carriers runs daily domestic flights to Phu Bai Airport in Hue. — VNS Photo Hue Phong

THUA THIEN HUE (Biz Hub) — The People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province has announced policies supporting airlines for a year after they launch new routes to Phu Bai International Airport in the province.

The provincial authorities will offer financial support to airlines to advertise on the route to Phu Bai Airport, the airlines and visit or tourism programmes related to the new routes.

The province's support policies include reduction in tickets, free buses to transport passengers from the airport to the centre of Hue City and vice versa, and support in opening an office for one airline company.

The carriers will get VND10 million (US$450) as subsidy in office rentals per month in the city.

The airlines' passengers will receive 50 per cent discount in entrance tickets to royal monuments around Hue.

Nguyen Van Cao, chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province, said the policies will be applicable for a year from the day the first flight lands at the airport for companies direct trading in air transport services and companies leasing air planes to open new routes to the Phu Bai Airport.

The support applies for the new route from Bangkok, Thailand to Hue starting March 18, 2016, but the policies will not be applicable to routes from Ha Noi and HCM City to Hue because those routes already have investors.

This year, the province expects to receive 3.3 million visitors, which include 45 per cent of foreign visitors, according to the provincial Culture, Sport and Tourism Department.

The airline companies are scheduled to open new routes between Hue and Nha Trang, Can Tho this year, and the number of visitors to Hue by air will increase by 15 per cent to 20 per cent this year, as against last year, the department said. — VNS