Numbers of Filipinos, Vietnamese travelling by air increase
The new Filipino and Vietnamese middle class are flying in ever-greater numbers within Southeast Asia as they capitalise on low fuel prices and budget airlines.
London (VNA) - The new Filipino and Vietnamese middle class are flying in ever-greater numbeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrs within Southeast Asia as they capitalise on low fuel prices and budget airl🌳ines, according to the most recent survey by FT Confidential Research, a unit of the Financial Times.
The survey, which was conducted among 3,000 consumers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, reveals that the number of Filipinos who fly in the region rose from 63.5 percent in 2013, to 77 percent in 2015.
The number of Vietnamese who fly increased from 62.3 percent to 68.2 percent over the past three years.
In contrast, the number of respondents in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand who fly has been roughly flat over the past year, reflecting weak consumer sentiment.
FT Confidential Research expects that the recently-launched ASEAN Open Skies agreement will result in increased competition and lower prices for consumers, which will encourage more travel within the region.
The agreement allows airlines from the group’s 10 member states to fly freely within the region. Low-cost carriers offer the cheapest and quickest way to get across the region.
AirAsia , which offers the most routes and flies to 100 cities in 22 countries, is likely to reap the greatest initial benefits from the Open Skies policy. It was the most popular airline among survey respondents in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Other airlines are adding regional flights at a rapid pace. Cebu-Pacific , with the slogan “Now every Juan can fly”, flies to more destinations than national flag carrier Philippines Airlines and was the top choice for Filipino respondents.
Only in Vietnam, did national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines remain the top choice. However, Hanoi-based low-cost carrier VietJet is expanding fast on the back of an aggressive marketing campaign. A quarter of Vietnamese respondents said they most frequently fly on VietJet within ASEAN.
Low fuel prices will also enable airlines to maintain profit margins should they wish to cut prices to win more custom, even if that pushes passenger yields lower.
However, increased demand for air travel is also exacerbating the problems associated with poor infrastructure in parts of Southeast Asia.
Airlines are also struggling with a shortage of well-trained pilots and several have had to set up their own training schools.-VNA
Customers of Vietnam Airlines can enjoy top-notch services when flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai (China) after the airline rolled out its new A350-900 aircraft for the route on March 28.
Vietnam Airlines will launch an additional 136 one-way flights for domestic routes from April 28 to May 4 to meet increasing travel demands during the upcoming national holidays.
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is offering several promotion deals at the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2016, which is taking place at the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre in Hanoi.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
Hanoi-based low-cost carrier VietJet (Source: VNA)
