Vietnamese airlines will have to raise their games to seize opportunities as well as counter challenges as the formation of the ASEAN Community will open up the regional air transport market to players from all ASEAN member countries.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport. (Photo for illustration)

According to Lai Xuan Thanh, Head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), said the ASEAN Community, which will be officially realised at the end of this year, will form a unified air transport market, which allows airlines from all countries in the region to operate air routes from one country to the remaining countries, which means competition will increase among ASEAN members.

The unified air transport market will also require all member countries to bring their air safety and security regulations up to common ASEAN standards, he said, adding that this, however, is not a big problem since Vietnam’s aviation sector has met ICAO standards.

The official stressed that in order to capture opportunities offered by a unified air transport market; Vietnamese airlines will have to raise their competitiveness and managerial capability.

The ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Source: VNA