According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, recently, tense developments in the Middle East have affected transportation and energy supply chains, leading to high aviation fuel prices. This puts great pressure on the operating costs of airlines around the world.
In that context, many international airlines have had to adjust operating plans, increase fares or reduce frequency on low-efficiency routes to reduce operating cost pressure.
Some major airlines in Europe, North America and Asia have planned to narrow their flight networks in the summer of 2026. Accordingly, Lufthansa is expected to cut about 20,000 short and medium flights from May to October 2026, and consider reducing operating capacity if fuel shortages persist.
It is estimated that in May 2026, about 2 million seats supplied and more than 13,000 flights may be cut globally.
In Vietnam, the operating activities of airlines in the first quarter of 2026 still recorded positive recovery despite fluctuations from the international market.
In the international market, Vietnamese airlines transported about 4.98 million passengers and 59,600 tons of cargo, an increase of about 13% and 11% respectively compared to the same period last year.
For the domestic market, transportation volume reached about 10.1 million passenger trips and 56.1 thousand tons of goods. Passenger volume increased by about 12%, while freight transportation decreased by about 7.4%.
However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that in the context of the fuel market and geopolitical situation still containing many risks, airlines are expected to continue to adjust operating plans in a cautious direction, while enhancing cost optimization and ensuring operational safety in the coming time.
