Vietjet is set to expand operations between Vietnam and Melbourne, Australia, with the announcement of a new direct service to Hanoi.
In addition to Vietjet’s daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City, the twice weekly service from Hanoi will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays using an Airbus A330-300, with the first service due to arrive in Melbourne on 4 June.
Vietjet chose Melbourne as its first Australian destination when it launched services from Ho Chi Minh City in April last year.
Although operating as a low-cost carrier, the airline offers a dedicated business class product on its A330-300 medium- and long-haul aircraft.
Vietnam has been one of Melbourne airport’s best performing post-pandemic international markets, with traveller numbers in 2023 up 37 per cent on 2019.
Melbourne airport chief of aviation, Jim Parashos, said the announcement was a sign that the liberalisation of bilateral agreements between the two countries in December last year was having an effect.
The new service will depart Hanoi at 1710 on Mondays and Fridays, with the return service departing Melbourne for Vietnam at 0730 the following morning.
Vietjet currently operates seven A330-300s, with plans for two more this year. Last month, the airline ordered 20 new A330 neo aircraft to expand its long-haul offerings.
