Thailand
Vietnam Airlines in codeshare deal with Bangkok Airways
HCMC – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) signed an agreement with Thailand’s Bangkok Airways in Hanoi on December 4 to launch codeshare flights between the two countries.
The deal will make it possible for customers to buy VNA tickets to fly from Hanoi or HCMC to Bangkok and then board connecting flights operated by Bangkok Airways to travel on to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and Chiang Rai. Passengers in Vietnam will just need to book tickets with VNA only.
Besides, Bangkok Airways will launch a daily service on the Bangkok-Danang route while VNA will operate six flights a day from Hanoi and HCMC to Bangkok.
VNA general director Duong Tri Thanh said the cooperation between the two airlines would offer more options for customers to fly to popular tourist attractions in the two countries.
Bangkok Airways has entered into codeshare agreements with 24 leading carriers worldwide. The partnership with VNA will offer Bangkok Airways and VNA passengers convenient and seamless access to more destinations in Vietnam and Thailand, said Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways.
According to the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, the Southeast Asian aviation market is holding strong growth potential given high travel demand. Six out of 11 Southeast Asian countries have achieved double-digit growth in air passengers.
The number of passengers flying between Vietnam and Thailand grew 30% last year, nearly double the figure in the last five years, and may continue expanding in the coming years.
VNA operates 90 flights to 20 domestic and 29 international destinations with an average of 400 flights a day. It has a fleet of modern aircraft including Boeing 787s, Airbus A350-900 XWBs, Airbus A330s and Airbus A321s.
Bangkok Airways owns 38 aircraft including six ATR72-500s, nine ATR72-600s, 14 A319s and nine A320s.
Source: http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/57377/Vietnam-Airlines-in-codeshare-deal-with-Bangkok-Airways.html