In doing so, it will become the first Vietnamese airline to launch a direct air link to India. No direct flight has linked Vietnam and India so far.

Budget carrier Vietjet Air plans to launch direct flights from Hanoi and HCMC to New Delhi this December.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam last month approved the budget carrier’s request to operate direct flights to India based on an air transport agreement between the two countries signed in 2013.

The Ho Chi Minh City-New Delhi route will open from December 6 onward with four flights a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The carrier had earlier announced plans to connect HCMC with the Indian capital in July last year to meet the growing demand from Vietnamese holiday-goers, but they failed to materialise.

The Hanoi-New Delhi route will operate from December 7 onward with three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Taj Mahal, a UNESCO heritage site and one of the world’s seven wonders, is a popular tourist attraction in India.

Both direct air routes will help cut traveling time between the two countries from 15 to five hours, opening up opportunities for boosting bilateral economic and tourism cooperation.

Meanwhile, Indian budget carrier Indigo has also announced plans to launch the first direct flight between the two countries on October 3 this year, connecting Hanoi and the eastern Indian city of Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta).

Vietnam currently has six commercial airlines licensed to fly: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar, VASCO, Bamboo Airways and the latest Vietstar Airlines. Thien Minh and Vietravel Airlines are companies vying to be the seventh.

Dong Hoi – Da Nang seaplane flights to be launched in May

The first seaplane flights between Dong Hoi in the north-central coastal province of Quang Binh and the central coastal city of Da Nang will be launched from May 4 by Hai Au Aviation JSC.

Vietnam, Nepal ink visa exemption pact, direct flights loom

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Vietnamese carrier to launch direct flight from Saigon to Bali

Vietjet Air will be the first Vietnamese carrier to fly directly to a highly popular tourist destination Bali in Indonesia.

AirAsia operates first flight on Can Tho-Kuala Lumpur air route

Flight AK 575 of Malaysia’s AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur to Can Tho international airport landed its first journey on April 8 morning. 

Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific put on extra flights for public holidays

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget airline Jetstar Pacific will provide nearly 1 million seats (equivalent to 4,700 flights) in domestic and international routes, to meet the travelling demand on the upcoming Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holiday.

Source: VnExpress