Vietjet's new route opening ceremony was held in New Delhi. Credit: Vietjet
HO CHI MINH CITY - Vietjet has opened up five direct routes to India, linking its largest cities of Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City with New Delhi and Mumbai starting this May.
India stands as one of the world's most populous countries with 1.3 billion people, where this latest announcement opens up opportunities for Vietjet's passengers to connect not just between India and Vietnam, but also across the airline's domestic and international networks.
The Da Nang - New Delhi and Hanoi - Mumbai routes will commence operations from May 14, 2020, with five flights per week and three flights per week respectively.
The Ho Chi Minh City - Mumbai route will operate four weekly flights from May 15, 2020.
The airline currently services the Ho Chi Minh City - New Delhi and Hanoi - New Delhi route at a frequency of four weekly flights and three weekly flights respectively. Vietjet has also indicated plans to secure more routes to multiple destinations within the country.
Describing the direct flight routes as a milestone not only for the airline, vice president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, also saw this deal as a means of "promoting the pillars of the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership, boosting mutual development in term of politics, national defense, security, economy, commerce, tourism and cultural exchange."
Between 2018 and 2019, trade between India and Vietnam grew at an annual rate of 12.81% and reached US$13.69 billion. Vietjet's VIP SkyBoss serves First Class seats from Hanoi to New Delhi. The premium service offers lounge access, priority services, and a selection of hot meals on flights, among others.