The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has approved the summer schedule for domestic international flights.

Forty-four international airlines will operate services, flying mainly to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with 33 carrying passengers and the remaining 11 carrying cargo or both passengers and cargo.

In May and June Northwest Airlines and Qantas AirCargo are to begin their first flights to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam Airlines will fly on 36 routes to 14 countries. Jetstar Pacific will fly on eight domestic destinations and increase the number of flights on the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi sector.

In related news, Jetstar Pacific has announced a promotion “free for passengers’ fellow travelers” offering 35,000 seats on domestic flights between September 8 to October 29.

The fare on the Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City– Hue, and Hanoi – Danang route is VND400,000 for two people. It is VND720,000 for Ho Chi Minh City – Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City - Hai Phong, and VND830,000 for Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi.

Ticket sales will begin at 6am on May 23 and end at 9pm on May 27 at jetstar.com.

The promotion is meant to mark one year since Australia's Jetstar acquired a stake in Pacific Airlines and the carrier became Jetstar Pacific. (SGGP)