VietNamNet Bridge - Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang said that instead of Vietnam Airlines alone reporting profits as previous years, this year domestic aviation grew well and all airlines were profitable.

The information was released by Thang at the government’s online conference on December 24.

Thang said in 2013, the domestic aviation industry gained a growth rate of nearly 20 percent. This is the first year that all domestic airlines like VietJetAir, Jetstar Pacific, Air Mekong and Vietnam Airlines were profitable.

According to Thang, in previously years, only Vietnam Airlines reported profits and others got losses. Vietnam Airlines, after a few years gaining profit of hundreds of billions dong, its profit in recent years declined. Last year, Vietnam Airlines had to change its business plans several times due to difficulties.

Thang also said that some airports are being exploited very well. He said more international routes to the Cai Cui Airport in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho will be established.

At the online conference, officials of HCM City and Dong Nai urged speeding up construction of the Long Thanh International Airport because the Tan Son Nhat Airport was overloaded.

HCM City’s Chair - Mr. Le Hoang Quan said that according to estimations, by 2015 Tan Son Nhat Airport will serve 13 million passengers but in 2013 it welcomed up to 20 million passengers.

Thang said that the project would be kicked off in late 2015 or early 2016 and completed by 2022.

Son Tung