ATR highlights untapped potential for regional aviation in Vietnam

ATR presented the findings of a whitepaper yesterday, "Propelling Vietnam's Regional Aviation". The presentation occurred during the "Unlocking Vietnam's Regional Aviation" workshop in Hanoi, a collaborative event with Business France and Vietnamese transport consultancy TEDI (Transport Engineering Design Inc.). This study, conducted in collaboration with TEDI, underscores the potential of regional air connectivity in Vietnam.

The report highlights how regional aviation can enhance Vietnam's connectivity by offering new, convenient travel options that complement existing transport infrastructure. Currently, 90% of domestic air traffic is concentrated at just 10 of the country's 22 airports, leaving many regional airports underused. At the same time, 25% of domestic flights cover distances under 300 nautical miles (555 km) but are operated by larger aircraft, which limits efficiency in terms of cost and frequency.

Vietnam's aviation sector is experiencing rapid growth, with domestic air travel projected to grow by over 20% from 2023 to 2027. The government plans to expand the network of approved commercial airports to 30 from 22 by 2030.

TEDI's research study identified 149 domestic routes within 300 nautical miles (556 km). The study also revealed that 87 routes out of 149 routes had traffic potential but remained unserved and would require a fleet of 25 ATR 72-600 aircraft to be served effectively.

(article source: ATR / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)