Vietnam Airlines targets growth

Despite fears that recession will continue in 2009, Vietnam Airlines believes it can achieve a 7.3% improvement in passengers.

Vietnam Airlines claims it can carry as many as 9.5 million passengers in 2009, up 7.3% compared with its performance in 2008.

The airlines also set a target of average seat occupancy rate of 76.3 points, up one point over 2008.

Based on a disappointing performance in 2008 when the airline racked up losses in gross revenue due to a global recession, it is now forecasting 2009 will be a difficult year.

It has proposed various measures including adjusting flight timetable to fit actual booking demand, downsizing aircraft types on certain routes to improve efficiency, improving fuel efficiency.

In 2008, Vietnam Airlines estimates it carried 8.8 million passengers, a 10% improvement over 2007.