Vietnam Airlines said that it would suspend all flights from and to Hue City between March 20 and November 20 this year because Phu Bai Airport will be closed for upgrading.
The national carrier will add additional flights to Danang City to serve passengers who want to fly from and to the central region during the airport upgrade time.
Between March 20 and 30, Vietnam Airlines will add seven flights on Hanoi-Danang route and nine HCM City-Danang flights per day.
From March 31 until when flights to the airport resume, Vietnam Airlines will add one to two daily flights, offering 184-368 seats, on the Hanoi-HCM City-Danang route.
A representative from Vietnam Airlines said any passenger who had bought ticket and confirmed seats on flights to and from Hue would be transferred to Danang.
Phu Bai Airport closure worries Hue tourism sector
At a recent meeting with travel companies in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Nguyen Quoc Thanh, Chairman of the provincial tourism association said the operational halt of Phu Bai Airport would seriously affect tourism firms, particularly Hue’s traditional handicraft village festival was scheduled to take place in April 2013. It would also cause chaos for travel companies in arranging their tour schedule.
A representative from the five-star Ana Mandara Resort in Thuan An Town, Phu Vang District, said the airport halt would cause his resort to lose several contracts, slashing its revenues.
When Phu Bai Airport closes, it would cost passengers around VND200,000 (USD30.47) to travel from Danang to Hue by coach. Moreover, the Danang-Hue is more than 100km long and has three mountain passes and many sections which are under repair, said Nguyen Hang Quy, Director of Huong Giang Travel.
