HCMC – Local airlines currently have fewer aircraft than last year, raising concerns about a potential shortage of planes in the near future.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said that as of May 8 this year, domestic carriers had had a total of 199 aircraft, with 165-170 of them actively in service. This marks a reduction of 40 to 45 aircraft against 2023.
The primary cause of this decline is attributed to Pratt & Whitney’s decision to ground PW1100 engines for comprehensive inspection and repair. These engines are currently utilized in A321neo aircraft operated by major carriers such as Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, which dominate the local aviation market.
The CAAV has told airlines to expand their fleet, reduce turnaround time from 45 to 35 minutes, add night flights, and deploy wider-body aircraft.
