A research report conducted by aircraft manufacturer ATR and Transport Engineering Design Inc. (TEDI) found that Vietnam currently has 87 short-haul routes of less than 555km that have yet to be operated by any airline.
The finding comes as short-haul aircraft account for only about 3 per cent of Vietnam's total fleet, far below the global average of 25 per cent.
At present, VASCO, a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, is the only carrier operating ATR aircraft in Vietnam, serving the Ho Chi Minh City-Con Dao and Ho Chi Minh City-Ca Mau routes. However, operations remain limited in scale.
The report noted that Vietnam and South Korea are among the few countries in Southeast and Northeast Asia that have not fully developed their short-haul aviation markets. South Korea has recently begun expanding the segment, with one airline ordering ATR 72-600 aircraft and planning to build a fleet of up to 20 planes.
ATR said it is in discussions with several Vietnamese airlines about introducing the ATR 72-600 into service. The aircraft is designed for short routes and offers lower operating costs and fuel consumption than similarly sized jet aircraft.
Jean-Pierre Clercin, ATR's Regional Director for Asia Pacific, said Vietnam's aviation market remains heavily focused on major trunk routes, while demand for short-haul travel continues to rise alongside the expansion of the country's airport network.
New airports planned or under development, including Phan Thiet, Gia Binh, Quang Tri, Mang Den and Van Phong, could create further opportunities for regional air services, he said.
Beyond domestic routes, regional connections such as Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh and services linking Ho Chi Minh City with destinations in Thailand were also identified as potential markets where short haul aviation could support tourism and trade.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the country's aviation sector handled more than 46 million passengers in the first four months of the year, up nearly 18 per cent year on year.
Cargo throughput reached approximately 616,000 tonnes, an increase of 17 per cent. The industry currently supports around 100,000 jobs and contributes USD 1.9 billion to Vietnam's GDP.