Capacity to Vietnam continues to boom with the news that Vietnam Airlines is planning to launch a new nonstop service between Melbourne and Hanoi.
Vietnam’s national carrier intends to commence the Melbourne Tullamarine-Hanoi Noi Bai service from 1 June.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, VN will operate the service twice a week – on Thursday and Sunday – flying its A350-900 aircraft on the route.
The direct service will add to the carrier’s existing six-times weekly Melbourne-Ho Chi Minh City service, which is also scheduled to increase to daily in June.
In addition to its Melbourne flights, Vietnam Airlines operates daily flights between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City and twice-weekly flights between Sydney and Hanoi.
With the launch of the MEL-HAN service, VN will offer around 10,980 two-way seats between Australia and Vietnam per week, US media reported. This marks an almost 20 per cent rise in capacity compared to 2019 levels.
The expansion comes after Vietnamese carrier, Vietjet began a big push in Australia, touching down in Melbourne and also Sydney for the first time this month.
Vietjet plans to commence Brisbane flights in June and is also eying Adelaide and Darwin services.
Additionally, it is offering free domestic flights within Vietnam for Australian travellers plus airfares from AU$200 ex-Sydney and Melbourne to Vietnam until 25 October 2023.
Following the low-cost carrier’s arrival in Victoria, MEL Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said travel to Vietnam was booming.
“Victorians can’t get enough of visiting Vietnam, it has consistently been one of our top 10 international destinations,” Mr Parashos said.
“Victoria is home to a large Vietnamese community making the city a key inbound market.”
