Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways have had to adjust their air routes to Europe and the US, due to being impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has increased costs for them.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam’s report on the Russia-Ukraine war’s impacts on local airlines, EU countries, the US, the UK and Canada have banned Russian planes from their airspace, including flights going through Russia. Russia has reciprocated the move with the same countries.
Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways, which operate flights to Europe and the US with a transit in Russia, have been hurt by the ban.
So, instead of transiting in Russia, the two Vietnamese carriers have had to fly through China, Kazakhstan or North Africa for their flights to Europe. This has prolonged each flight by 60-120 minutes, equal to USD10,600-21,200 in additional operational costs.
With six weekly flights between Vietnam-Europe, Vietnam Airlines has to spend additional USD70,000-130,000 per week. The figure is USD35,000-65,000 for Bamboo Airways which runs three flights to Europe every week.
It costs Vietnam Airlines an extra USD20,000-40,000 per week because of the adjustments in flights to the US.
The Russia-Ukraine tension has caused higher fuel prices, which has also pressured the Vietnamese airlines.
Vietnam Airlines suspended its Hanoi-Moscow service from March 25 until further notice. The national carrier explained that it uses wide-body airplanes Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 for the Moscow flights. However, the airplanes are leased. Under the leasing contracts, the airplanes are not allowed to fly to countries and territories facing sanctions imposed by the US and the EU.
Vietnamese airlines hard hit by Russia-Ukraine tension
Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways have had to adjust their air routes to Europe and the US, due to being impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has increased costs for them.
Source: dtinews.vn, TP
