Vietnam airlines resume flights to Taiwan, HK and Macau

Vietnam airlines resume flights to Taiwan, HK and Macau after govt. lifts bans

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air will resume flights to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau from Sunday, the companies said, after the Hanoi government eased restrictions over virus concerns.

Vietnam on Saturday declared a public health emergency over the coronavirus epidemic and said it would halt all flights to and from China including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Late on Saturday, Vietnam's civil aviation authority lifted ban on flights to Taiwan and on Sunday it said carriers could also temporarily operate flights to Hong Kong and Macau. Flights to mainland China were still strictly suspended.

"Flights to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau will be resumed from today. However flights from Hanoi to Hong Kong and Macau will be suspended starting from Feb. 5," national firm Vietnam Airlines said in its Sunday's statement.

Budget carrier Vietjet Air said it had suspended all flights to and from mainland China from Feb. 1 but was operating flights to Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Vietnam has confirmed seven cases of the virus. The government also advised its citizen to limit large gatherings.

~The Star~

越南暂停所有往返越南和中国的航班

越南暂停所有往返越南和中国的航班

越南周六（1日）宣布暂停所有中国航班。

法新社报道，越南民航局发表声明说，这是为对抗武汉肺炎（2019新型冠状病毒肺炎）采取的“加强”措施。

声明还表示，这项指令适用于所有提供“往返于越南和中国”的所有航空公司。

~早报网~

Vietjet to start offering Ho Chi Minh City - Pattaya service in December

Vietjet to start offering Ho Chi Minh City - Pattaya service in December

No-frills Vietjet on Monday announced its latest direct service linking Ho Chi Minh City to Thailand’s Pattaya via U-Tapao International Airport.

The carrier’s daily service will take one hour and thirty minutes per leg, starting from December 23.

The daily flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 1:25 pm and arrives in U-Tapao at 2:40 pm; the return flight from U-Tapao takes off at 11:25 am and touch down in Ho Chi Minh City at 12:55 pm.

To celebrate the new route, more than 100,000 super-saving tickets priced from just VND0, excluding taxes and fees, are on sale from December 2 to 5, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm (GMT+7).

The promotional tickets are applicable to all flights from Vietnam’s Da Lat, Da Nang and Taichung in Taiwan to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), from Ho Chi Minh City to Pattaya (U-Tapao International Airport), as well as all of Thailand’s domestic routes from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Phuket – Chiang Rai, and Udon Thani – Chiang Rai.

The travel time is from December 23, 2019 to October 24, 2020, excluding public holidays.

The tickets are available on Vietjet’s website, mobile app or Facebook.

Following the launch of the Ho Chi Minh City-Pattaya route, Vietjet will operate the most routes and highest flight frequency between Thailand and Vietnam with eight direct services totally, including Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City/Da Nang/Haiphong/Da Lat-Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Ho Chi Minh City-Phuket/Chiang Mai, and Ho Chi Minh City-U-Tapao.

The offering of the newest service is expected to actively promote the number of tourists traveling from Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces of Vietnam to the Rayong and Pattaya area, a popular international tourist destination in Thailand.

The new service will also create a more convenient connection for international visitors via two gateways at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and U-Tapao International Airport in Thailand.

A beach city about two hours of driving south of Bangkok, Pattaya is one of the top tourist cities for foreign visitors and local people alike.

It is a popular destination for those who want to see some of Thailand’s coastal delights while still enjoying all the trappings of a big city.

Although the beaches may not be as famous as those in Phuket in the south, they are still beautiful and have a lot of activities and entertainment.

~Tuoi Tre News~

Asean to open skies further

Asean to open skies further

Asean countries signed the protocol to put into place a package of commitments to further liberalise air transport services in the region.

At the 23rd Asean Transport Ministers Meeting, the countries also agreed to improve connectivity among member states.

Transport ministers and senior officials from Asean member countries attended the two-day meeting. Also present were dialogue partners from China, Japan and South Korea.

Among the highlights of the meeting was the conclusion of the “tenth package of commitments on air transport services under the Asean Framework of Services”.

Liow said the ministers also signed the protocol of domestic code-share rights, allowing code­-sharing arrangements between the marketing airline and domestic airline in Asean member countries.

“This would increase connectivity between Malaysia and other Asean member states.

“At the same time, it would enable designated airlines of Malaysia to offer their passengers a wide range of travel options which can extend beyond the airlines’ own network and route structure,” he added.

Liow said the ministers signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Flight Crew Licensing, which would facilitate air services to complement liberalisation efforts in Asean, and ensure the highest degree of security in international air transport.

They also reached an agreement on the Facilitation of Cross Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicles.

“This is to promote seamless cross-border mobility of passengers between Asean member states,” said Liow.

He added that the ministers had concluded the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the authorities in charge of aircraft accident investigation under the Asean-China partnership.

“This agreement would further strengthen Malaysia’s cooperation with China in relation to aircraft accident and incident investigations, sharing experiences and expertise in various specialist fields, equipment and research,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

AirAsia starts new route to Vietnam

AirAsia starts new route to Vietnam



New destination: (From second left) Lee, Fam and Nguyen at the inauguration of AirAsia’s latest route from Kuala Lumpur to Nha Trang.

AirAsia, Malaysia’s award-winning low-cost carrier, has launched its 54th unique route, Vietnam’s coastal city of Nha Trang.

The maiden flight, with a 93% flight load, landed at around noon (Vietnam time) on Thursday at Cam Ranh International Airport, greeted with a water cannon salute.

The inaugural flight was a milestone for AirAsia, being the first to operate direct flights to Nha Trang from Malaysia.

AirAsia Bhd commercial head Spencer Lee said 2017 has been an eventful year for Asean as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Also present were AirAsia director Datuk Fam Lee Ee and Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism vice-director Nguyen Thi Le Thanh.

Nha Trang is the capital of Khanh Hoa which lies along the coastline of south central Viet­nam.

Lee said the daily direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Nha Trang showed the carrier’s commitment to provide more connecti­vity between the two countries.

AirAsia also flies to other Vietnamese cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi.

Lee said passengers can use Fly-Thru, an optional baggage check-through service to their final destination without the hassle of immigration clearance at the transit hub.

With Fly-Thru service, passengers from 23 cities in eight countries can travel to Nha Trang seamlessly.

“We are confident that we will keep this route strong,” said Lee.

From now until Sept 24, AirAsia is offering RM99 all-in-fare one way to Nha Trang for travel until Feb 28 next year.

For more details, visit AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

~News courtesy of The Star~

Hanoi – Siem Reap route introducing next year

Vietnam budget carrier to open Hanoi – Siem Reap route next year

Vietjet is poised to launch a new service connecting Hanoi and the Cambodian city of Siem Reap next year, the low-cost carrier announced Friday.

The new route, scheduled to be in service from March 30, is looking to meet increasing travel demand of individuals, tourists and entrepreneurs between the two well-known cities, Vietjet said in a press release.

The Hanoi – Siem Reap route is operated daily for 1 hour 45 minutes per leg, with its flight takes off from Hanoi at 3:55 pm (local time) and lands in Siem Reap at 5:40 spm (local time).

The return flight departs 6:40 pm (local time) and arrives at 8:25 pm (local time).

Promotional tickets of the route are available now from only VND399,000 (US$17) each.

Conveniently located in the Southeast Asia with many World heritages of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, etc, Siem Reap has become one of the favorite tourist destinations in Cambodia.

The city is also voted one of the world’s most friendly cities thanks to its famous Apsara dance, hand-made shops, typical cuisine and serenity and antiqueness.

~News courtesy of Tuoi Tre~

VietJetAir opens flights to Singapore

VietJetAir opens flights to Singapore



Vietnam’s low-cost carrier VietJetAir launched Friday a route between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore, Thoi bao Kinh te Sai Gon (Saigon Times) reported.

Seven round-trip flights will now operate every week with each trip about one hour and 50 minutes long.

VietJetAir flights will add 2,520 seats every week to the route which is currently being operated by Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines, according to the report.

The newly-opened route is the airline’s third international route, after HCMC-Bangkok and Hanoi-Bangkok.

VietJetAir now operates 24 domestic and international routes.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~

Vietnam low-cost airline adds two more domestic routes

Vietnam low-cost airline adds two more domestic routes



Passengers get off a Jestar Pacific aircraft in central Vietnam.

Vietnam budget airliner Jetstar Pacific has announced it will open two more domestic routes next month after receiving a new Airbus aircraft.

Set to open on December 15, the two new flights will connect Ho Chi Minh City with Nha Trang City in central Vietnam and with Phu Quoc island in the south, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported Thursday.

Two roundtrip flights will depart in HCMC at 12:10 p.m. to Nha Trang and at 1:10 p.m. to Phu Quoc and return to HCMC at 1:40 p.m. from Nha Trang and at 2:35 p.m. from Phu Quoc everyday.

Le Hong Ha, general director of Jetstar Pacific, said his company will get one more Airbus A320 early next month and yet another early next year. The acquisitions would increase the carrier's Airbus A320 aircraft fleet to seven, he added.

From noon November 8 to the end of November 11, Jestar Pacific will sell cheap tickets, priced from VND279,000 (US$13.23) for a one-way flight from HCMC to Phu Quoc and Nha Trang from December 15 to January 16, 2014.

The airliner also has promotions on flights from HCMC and Hanoi to Da Nang with tickets priced at VND399,000 ($18.92) for a one-way flight and from HCMC to Vinh for VND749,000 ($35.5). These rates apply for flights departing between November 19 and December 18.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~

Singaporean, S. Korean carriers to fly to Da Nang daily

Singaporean, S. Korean carriers to fly to Da Nang daily

Korean Air and Singapore’s Silk Air will add four more flights to Da Nang City this October, following the schedule expansions of domestic carrier Vietnam Airlines and other foreign airlines earlier this year.

Korean Air will have three more flights per week from Seoul from October 27, and Silk Air will add a Thursday flight from Singapore to its current schedule from October 31, making the two carriers fly every day to Da Nang, Vietnam's third-largest city, Balcony Media Group said recently in a press release Friday.

According to the release, the flight additions will satisfy more demand from Australian, the UK and other European countries with Silk Air and from the US with Korean Air.

It also said the three flights by Korean Air will boost the number of flights from Seoul to Da Nang every week to 14 – including those provided by South Korea’s Asiana Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.

Vietnam Airlines commenced two new flights to Da Nang from Seoul and Cambodia’s Siem Reap July 1, while Hong Kong-based Dragonair on March 28 started flights between Hong Kong and Da Nang every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and added a weekly Saturday flight to the route from July 6.

Currently, three Chinese airlines – China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines are also offering flights from Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai respectively to Da Nang, the release said.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien News~

New flights from Da Nang to Seoul, Siem Reap

VNA opens new flights from Da Nang to Seoul, Siem Reap



National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) on June 28 in Da Nang City announced that it has opened two direct flight routes from the city to Seoul (Korea) and Siem Reap (Cambodia).

There will be three flights a week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, which will depart at 0.05 am in Da Nang and at 9.30 am (local time) in Seoul, by Airbus A321 aircraft for the Da Nang - Seoul route.

As for Da Nang - Siem Reap route, there will be one flight a day by ATR-72 aircraft, departing at 2.10 pm from Da Nang City and at 5.15 pm from Siem Reap.

The carrier announced that it will sell tickets at prices nearly 50 percent cheaper than normal prices for both routes until December 31 this year, with a round-trip ticket for Da Nang - Seoul route costing VND5,940,000, and VND1,738,000 for Da Nang – Siem Reap route.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

VA offers promotional fares

VA offers promotional fares on domestic, int’l flights

Vietnam Airlines, the country’s national carrier, announced on April 5 a special promotional program to cover the coming holiday season called ‘Hello-Summer Vacation 2013’.

The Airline will offer passengers preferential fare rates on both domestic and international flights from April 8 to 21.

All one-way fares on domestic flights departing from May 5 to October 31 will cost either VND333,000(US$15.9) or VND666,000 ($31.8).

Similarly, return-fares on international flights starting April 22 to October 31 will be priced from VND189,000 ($9) to VND8,363,000 ($399).

The above fare rates exclude VAT and other surcharges. The promotional offer does not apply for flights during the Independence Day holidays from April 30 till May 1.

For more information, please see log onto www.vietnamairlines.com.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Flights from Nha Trang to Moscow

Vietnam Airlines opens flight from Nha Trang to Moscow

Vietnam Airlines has just announced the opening of a direct flight route from Nha Trang City to Moscow, starting April 5.

Passengers getting on board of Vietnam Airlines' plane (Photo: U. Phuong) The national flag carrier will launch its first direct flight from Nha Trang to Moscow on April 5 via Boeing 777. Every Friday, a flight will depart Nha Trang City at 10.25 am and arrive in Moscow at 8pm local time.

The carrier will soon increase two flights per week on Monday and Friday to meet customer demand from October.

On its debut flight, a return ticket from Nha Trang City to Moscow will cost VND10.5 million (US$503.5), excluding VAT and additional charges, from April 1 to March 31--except for two holidays, April 30 and May 1.

This is the third direct flight between Vietnam and Russia that Vietnam Airlines has opened.

Nguyen Tien Nam, a representative of Vietnam Airlines in Russia, said the new route aims to maintain large numbers of Russian visitors to Vietnam in the face of global economic slowdown. In 2012, the number of passengers on the Moscow-Hanoi-HCMC flights rose by 10,000, to reach 79,000 visitors.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Vietnam Airlines offers ‘buy-1 get-1’

Vietnam Airlines offers ‘buy-one get-one’ free package



Vietnam Airlines announced on March 20 that they are offering a promotional package, under which any economy class passenger above the age of 18 can avail of a free ticket for an accompanying child of less than 12 years of age on the same flight.

An adult economy class passenger can get a free ticket for an accompanying child of less than 12 years of age

This offer is open on 38 domestic flight routes of Vietnam Airlines and the Vietnam Air Services Company.

The promotional program will take effect date from now until January 31, 2014.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Air Mekong to temporarily halt operations from March

Air Mekong to temporarily halt operations from March

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has said that from next month Air Mekong will halt operations temporarily, to restructure its entire fleet.

After two years of operations, the carrier found that their Bombardier aircrafts were unsuitable for service and intends to return the aircrafts to the supplier and invest in other aircraft.

Air Mekong was the third private carrier in Vietnam after Indochina Airlines and VietJet Air. The carrier officially began operations at the end of 2010 and connected flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang City to Phu Quoc and Da Lat.

The airline is expected to resume operations by year end and may replace their fleet with Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircrafts.

~News courtesy of SGGP~