Vietnam Airlines on Monday announced that it has the plan to double the number of routes between Vietnam and India, enhancing non-stop air service between the two countries.
As per a statement issued by the airline, two new routes to Mumbai will be launched by the SkyTeam alliance member, linking the city to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, using Airbus A321 aircraft, starting on May 20th.
These new flights complement the carrier’s current flights from Delhi to the two Vietnamese cities, which were launched in June 2021.
Flight Schedule
Vietnam Airlines has released a flight schedule for its India-Vietnam routes. The schedule includes four flights per week to Mumbai, with three from Ho Chi Minh City and one from Hanoi.
There are also four flights per week to Ho Chi Minh City, with two from Mumbai and two from Hanoi. The schedule offers travellers a convenient way to travel between the two countries.
| Flight | From | To | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Days of Ops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VN972 | BOM | HAN | 23:10 | 05:30 | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| VN973 | HAN | BOM | 18:20 | 21:35 | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| VN978 | BOM | SGN | 23:10 | 06:00 | Sun, Tue, Thu, Sat |
| VN979 | SGN | BOM | 17:55 | 21:35 | Sun, Tue, Thu, Sat |
“An Airbus A321 aircraft will fly the new route,” said Vietnam Airlines in the statement.
Strengthening Ties between Vietnam and India
According to Vietnam Airlines, the additional Mumbai routes will enhance trade, cultural, social, and tourism ties between the two countries. The new Hanoi-Mumbai flights will operate four times weekly, while Ho Chi Minh City-Mumbai will operate three times weekly.
A non-stop service between Vietnam and New Delhi was introduced in June 2022. The airline also said that as of March 26 of this year, the flight services between Hanoi and New Delhi have been increased to four flights a week while Ho Chi Minh City-New Delhi is being serviced through three flights per week.
Competition and Expansion in the Market
Vietjet, a low-cost carrier, will compete with Vietnam Airlines on the Hanoi-Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City-Mumbai routes, with the latter operating both A321s and A330s.
Vietnam Airlines’ entry into the Indian market comes after Vietjet’s first flights to the country in April 2022. It is worth noting that IndiGo currently operates two daily flights from Kolkata to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, the three airlines provide a total of 18,710 two-way weekly seats between the two countries.
Vietjet, a Vietnamese airline, will also launch a flight connecting Da Nang, a coastal city in Vietnam, with five cities in India in June 2022: New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. The news was announced at the Da Nang Investment Forum 2022.
The new route to Mumbai, according to the statement, will significantly improve relations between the two countries in terms of trade, culture, society, and tourism.
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