Vietnam Airlines’ cargo division has reported a healthy growth in freight volumes which rose 30 per cent for the first six months this year over the same period last year and international traffic up almost 20 per cent.
The carrier has a 60:40 imbalanceon its Europe-Vietnam trade with the inbound leg from the EU not only suffering poor load factors but only managing around US$1.50 per kg compared to US$3 per kg on the outbound from Vietnam to Europe.
But the carrier remains optimistic that it will raise revenues by 15 per cent and cargo volumes by 20 per cent domestically and by 16 to 17 per cent internationally for the full year 2008.
But this may be difficult to achieve as rising inflation and a growing trade imbalance have prompted the Vietnamese government to call for a cut-back on exports which is expected to slow cargo growth in the second half.