Vietnam aviation industry soars back to pre-pandemic levels

As Vietnam emerges from the shadows of the Covid-19 pandemic, the air transport sector has shown remarkable resilience and growth, surpassing pre-pandemic passenger levels. According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the first quarter of 2025 saw a total of 20.7m passengers flying, up 9.2% year-on-year. Domestic travel accounted for over 9m passengers, a rise of 5.4%, while international travel surged to over 11.7m, a robust 12.3% increase. This resurgence in air travel signifies a complete recovery for Vietnam’s aviation industry, which had been heavily impacted during the pandemic. The figures not only reflect a return to pre-Covid activity, but also demonstrate a growth trend, with international passenger numbers increasing by 11% and domestic numbers by 5.8% compared to 2019 levels. During the peak travel season for Tet, from January 14 to February 12, the market saw approximately 7.3m passengers, up 11.7% from the previous year. Similarly, cargo transport totalled 329,000 tonnes, reflecting a 12.4% increase from the same period last year.<br/>