Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, has announced that it has launched an online check-in service for passengers departing from Phu Bai airport in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The move is expected to increase efficiency and improve customer experience and convenience.
The move has raised the total number of domestic and international airports with this service to 17 and 30, respectively, toward the goal of becoming a digital airline. Passengers will be able to check in via the official portal or the Vietnam Airlines application within 24 hours to one hour ahead of departure.
After the check-in process, they will receive an online boarding pass via e-mail. In case they do not have check-in luggage, they can go directly to the security counter with their online or printed boarding passes. The service has already been deployed at domestic airports including Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Van Don, Cat Bi, Vinh, Chu Lai, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Dien Bien, Can Tho, Tho Xuan, Pleiku, and Phu Cat.
In January, Vietnam Airlines launched two e-commerce platforms VNAMAZING, VNAMALL as well as its Vietnam Airlines Gift Card. The services were the first of their kind in the domestic aviation sector. VNAMAZING offers online tourism services including tour and accommodation bookings. VNAMALL provides a wide range of aviation and non-aviation goods and services.
As OpenGov Asia reported, the Vietnam Airlines Gift Card is a product available on VNAMALL, which can be used to exchange airline tickets or avail of business class upgrade benefits on flights operated by Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO. An official from Vietnam Airlines had said that the airline considers e-commerce development one of its top priorities.
More recently, the carrier announced that passengers using the airline’s air service can now access a free-of-charge news-reader application called PressReader for Vietnamese and international publications. The application provides more than 7,000 digital newspaper and magazine titles available in over 70 languages. According to Vietnam Airlines, passengers can use the application 24 hours before the scheduled departure time and 24 hours after landing.
To use the app, passengers must download the Vietnam Airlines’ app, choose the PressReader button, and verify their booking code and flight information. Articles can be read online or downloaded for offline reading. The Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines stated that this was a “trailblazing step” from the national flag carrier in its efforts to digitalise services, improve passengers’ experience, minimise paper use, and reduce weight and fuel consumption, helping protect the environment.
The government recently approved the National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, with an orientation towards 2030. The initiative will help accelerate digital transformation through changes in awareness, enterprise strategies, and incentives toward the digitalisation of businesses, administration, and production activities. The government wants the digital economy to contribute 20% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 to the country’s economy. It also aims to be in the top 50 countries on the UN’s ICT Development Index as early as 2025.
Digital transformation has been prioritised in eight sectors, including finance and banking, healthcare, education, agriculture, transport, logistics, energy, natural resources, and environment, and manufacturing.
