Faced with the dual pressure of skyrocketing jet fuel prices and scarce supply, a series of Vietnamese airlines have to overhaul their operational plans. As a result, numerous domestic routes will be suspended or see significant frequency reductions, starting from April 1, 2026, reported Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
In March 2026, average Jet A-1 prices in the Singapore market fluctuated between $190 and $200 per barrel, peaking at $234.34 on March 24. Furthermore, physical premiums have exceeded $30 per barrel, reaching as high as $39.60 at certain points, pushing total fuel costs to extreme levels.
"Fuel costs are currently not only affected by crude oil prices but also by refining costs, war risk insurance, and supply chain disruptions, placing immense financial pressure on airlines," an aviation industry representative noted.
Estimates from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) show that fuel now accounts for approximately 35% to 40% of total operating costs. Should fuel prices remain around $200 per barrel, operational expenses for airlines could rise by roughly 40% compared to prior to the Middle East conflict. In this climate, airlines are compelled to restructure their networks, optimize fleets, and adjust capacity to preserve cash flow rather than pursuing volume expansion.
The CAAV reported that Vietnam Airlines will officially suspend several routes starting from April 1, 2026, including: Cat Bi to Buon Ma Thuot, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, and Can Tho; and Ho Chi Minh City to Van Don, Rach Gia, and Dien Bien.
During the second quarter of 2026, depending on fuel price fluctuations (160–160–200/barrel), the national carrier expects to cut between 700 and 1,700 flight pairs per month, representing 10% to 20% of its total output. Specifically, international routes may see a 4% to 18% reduction, while domestic routes could be slashed by 12% to 26%.
Similarly, Vietjet plans to reduce its total operational output by approximately 18% in April 2026, with domestic capacity down 22% and international capacity down 11%.
Significant adjustments will be made to routes such as Hanoi–Cam Ranh, Hanoi–Buon Ma Thuot, HCMC–Cat Bi, HCMC–Tho Xuan, Da Nang–Singapore, and HCMC–Bangkok. The airline warned that if fuel prices remain high, further adjustments may follow.
Sun Phu Quoc Airways is currently maintaining its scale of approximately 60 flights per day and has secured fuel supplies through the end of April. However, the airline remains open to adjusting plans if market volatility continues.
Bamboo Airways anticipates a sharp reduction in scale, operating only 15–17 flights per day starting in April (a more than 50% decrease). The carrier will focus exclusively on trunk routes and flights to/from Quy Nhon.
Vietravel Airlines, operating a smaller fleet, will maintain 12–14 flights per day with two aircraft in April. It plans to increase this to 28–30 flights per day toward the end of the month to serve the April 30–May 1 holiday peak and the summer season as it adds more aircraft.
Finally, Pacific Airlines plans to reduce its capacity by 8% to 30% in Q2 2026, primarily cutting flights on off-peak days and low-efficiency time slots.
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