Talking about this, Mr. Dao Manh Kien - Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Chairman of the Trade Union of Vietnam Airlines Corporation - affirmed: "This is the self-responsibility of the National Airlines and said that Vietnam Airlines will continue to accompany the Trade Union organization to care for, take care of, and nurture workers to be truly union members".
Reporter (PV): Sir, how did Vietnam Airlines start participating in the "Trade Union Flight" Program and what is the scale to date?
Mr. Dao Manh Kien: Starting from Tet 2023, Vietnam Airlines has successfully participated in organizing flights to take workers who go to work far away to return to their hometowns for Tet using charity auction funds. Right from this initial step, the program has brought positive results, spreading a humane message to the community. Since then, "Trade Union Flights" has been elevated to a strategic coordination program between Vietnam Airlines and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.
Over the years, the scale of the program has been substantially expanded in terms of the number of flights, route network and the number of union members benefiting. If in 2023, Vietnam Airlines' "Trade Union Flight" brought only 80-100 workers home for Tet, then for Tet At Ty 2025, Vietnam Airlines has coordinated with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to successfully implement the program "Trade Union Flight Spring 2025" with 02 flights Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh bringing 450 workers home for Tet.
And this Binh Ngo Tet 2026, Vietnam Airlines continues to coordinate with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to deploy "Trade Union Flights" to take 1050 workers home for Tet.
The airline will operate 5 specialized flights, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with key traffic gateways in the North and Central regions. Flights are scheduled to take off on February 12, 2026 (ie December 25 of the year At Ty). In which, Vietnam Airlines directly supports 50 free air tickets for workers in particularly difficult circumstances.
For the remaining 1000 passengers paid by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation, Vietnam Airlines applies a 10% discount policy and prioritizes arranging supply capacity in the context that travel demand during Tet is always at the ceiling level.
As you just said, the "Trade Union Flight" program has been maintained for many years and is increasingly expanding in scale, showing the readiness and persistence of Vietnam Airlines in accompanying the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to take care of workers. So what is the reason why Vietnam Airlines prioritizes allocating significant resources for support flights despite the huge operating pressure during the Tet Nguyen Dan peak season, sir?
Mr. Dao Manh Kien: With the role of National Airlines, Vietnam Airlines not only performs business tasks but also carries the responsibility for the community and social security. We determine that accompanying the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour is self-responsibility. Tet is an opportunity for reunion. Bringing workers from afar back to their hometowns to celebrate Tet is to contribute to preserving family cultural values and social stability.
Tet holiday is indeed very stressful both in terms of aircraft and human resources, but Vietnam Airlines' view is: Resources may be limited, but sharing has no borders. Through information from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation, we understand the pressure of workers before the journey home for the traditional Tet holiday is the cost and air tickets. This is the biggest "barrier" for workers' desire to rejoin the union.
Therefore, Vietnam Airlines accepts to coordinate and optimize resources, prioritizing these routes to jointly contribute to removing "barriers", helping workers have a comfortable home trip and be truly reintegrated.
You said Vietnam Airlines accepts to coordinate and optimize resources, prioritizing "Trade Union Flights" to help workers become truly union members. So what is "true union members" from Vietnam Airlines' point of view? Does the need to coordinate and optimize resources to organize support flights affect the service quality of "Trade Union Flights", sir?
Mr. Dao Manh Kien: We believe that a "reunion flight in the true sense" goes far beyond the scope of a normal transport service. It must be a journey to bring children far from home to their families with respect, safety and the fastest speed. Vietnam Airlines plays the role of a "bridge" for workers to put aside a hard year and fully enjoy the joy of reunion. The greatest value of the journey lies not in the ticket, but in the recognition of organizations, businesses and society for the contributions of workers to the economy.
Also from the goal of helping workers become truly union members, even though it is flights with discounted or free tickets, service standards are still maintained, even better enhanced in the reception and service stages. We proactively propose the most convenient flight times so that brothers and sisters can return home in time for the year-end meal.
The Vietnam Airlines Trade Union has closely coordinated with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and ground units to develop detailed scenarios and create separate priority channels at the airport. In particular, a team of volunteers who are officials and union members of the Vietnam Airlines Trade Union will be directly present at the terminal to support procedures and give Tet gifts right at the airport gate, creating a cozy atmosphere from the first moment of the journey.
All stages from ground service to air service are carefully reviewed, ensuring that the union member's journey is warm, thoughtful and solemn like any commercial flight.
From the position of Chairman of the Vietnam Airlines Trade Union, please share about the direction of implementing the "Trade Union Flight" program in the following years? What is the message that Vietnam Airlines wants to send through this program and what do you personally expect after this program, sir?
Mr. Dao Manh Kien: In fact, in recent years, the scale of Vietnam Airlines' participation in the program has been continuously expanded. Especially in 2026, in addition to reducing 10% of ticket prices for employees and their families on Trade Union flights, Vietnam Airlines also gives away 50 free tickets to people in particularly difficult circumstances. These things are proof of Vietnam Airlines' long-term and sustainable commitment to social security, taking care of union members and workers.
50 extra tickets may be a small number, but we hope it will be a "detonator" to spread the spirit of mutual affection, encouraging other social resources to join hands to care for workers.
Our message through this program is very simple: "Journey of Reunion - Wings of Dreams". Vietnam Airlines is committed to always being a reliable companion, ready to open our arms to bring each worker closer to their families, because we believe that the stability and happiness of each family is the foundation for sustainable development and happiness of the country.
A ticket may have a certain material value, but the happiness of family reunion is priceless. We expect that after a complete Tet holiday, workers will be "filled" with spiritual energy to return to the factory with a more excited and productive mindset.
Thank you very much, sir!
