Transiting involves more costs and time, which tour agencies need to factor into prices, automatically causing them to rise. This puts tour companies at a disadvantage in terms of bargaining power. There are currently, for instance, no direct flights from Vietnam's capital city Hanoi to Turkey and major European destinations like Czech, Spain and Italy. There are also no direct flights from Vietnam to places like Sweden and North Korea. "A lack of direct flights can make visitors hesitate to travel, because it takes them too much time to transit," said Nguyen Cong Hoan, a representative of travel firm Hanoi Redtour. An executive of a Hanoi-based travel company said the number of Vietnamese tour bookings to North Korea has significantly increased in recent years, especially after the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi last month. "But there are no direct flights. Since tourists need to transit in China, the airfare often accounts for as high as 50-60 … [Read more...] about Lack of direct flights hits Vietnam outbound tourism
Dallas direct flights
Direct flights to America greenlit
So far, only Vietnam Airlines has ordered wide-body aircraft that can handle a direct flight to the US, Photo: Le Toan Identified as an important market since 1996, the United States has been in Vietnam Airlines’ sights for a long time, with the national flag carrier opening a representative office in the US in 2001. Vietnam Airlines has been co-operating with major airlines in the US such as Delta Airlines to operate codeshare flights from Vietnam via Narita Airport in Japan and Frankfurt in Europe to 15 destinations across the US. Over the last 10 years, Vietnam Airlines has been actively preparing to weather technical and commercial challenges from such a route. “We have been in active discussions with Boeing, Airbus, and other aircraft engine manufacturers about the appropriate aircraft required, those which are capable of operating nonstop from Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh City even in strong headwinds,” Duong Tri Thanh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, told VIR. … [Read more...] about Direct flights to America greenlit
AirAsia to launch new Chiang Mai-Da Nang direct flight
Passengers check in at Da Nang International Airport. The airport hosted 23 daily direct flights with 2.35 million tourists on 239 flights per week in 2018. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh Budget carrier AirAsia will launch a daily flight between the central city of Da Nang and Chiang Mai, Thailand from April 14. Flights will take one hour and 45 minutes. AirAsia already has a Bangkok-Da Nang route with three flights per week, and a Da Nang-Kuala Lumpur route with two flights per week. According to the city’s airport authority, Thai Vietjet, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia were currently operating direct flights between Da Nang and Bangkok. It said nearly 400,000 tourists and passengers from Bangkok arrived in Da Nang via direct flights in 2018. The new route would offer more chances for tourists travelling between Viet Nam’s central region and Thailand. The city, which is situated at the end of the East-West Economic Corridor – linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Viet Nam, … [Read more...] about AirAsia to launch new Chiang Mai-Da Nang direct flight
U.S. to give green light to direct flights from Vietnam
U.S. to give green light to direct flights from VietnamThe Saigon Times Daily Passengers disembark from a Vietnam Airlines aircraft. The air carrier expects to be able to operate direct flights to the United States soon - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to soon grant a Category 1 rating to Vietnam, paving the way for local airlines to open direct air routes to the United States, Thanh Nien Online newspaper reported, citing Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). To get the Category 1 rating, CAAV must meet the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the FAA. CAAV Deputy Head Vo Huy Cuong noted that the FAA has conducted many technical safety assessments in Vietnam, with the last one being held in July last year, and has recognized the safety of Vietnam's aviation sector. Thus, the rating is not only helpful to local airlines seeking to operate … [Read more...] about U.S. to give green light to direct flights from Vietnam
Nagoya-Đà Nẵng direct flight set to launch in 2019
A new terminal was opened at Da Nang international Airport to host the increasing number of tourists visiting the city. A new direct flight between Da Nang and Nagoya, Japan will launch later in 2019. — VNS Photo Tran Le Lam The central city’s international airport administration, in co-operation with Chubu Centrair airport, Japan, plans to launch daily direct flights connecting Da Nang and Nagoya later this year. Director of Da Nang International Airport Adminitration, Le Xuan Tung, said the two sides had agreed to host two chartered flights between Da Nang and Nagoya in May and August of 2019 as part of a promotion programme to soon launch a daily direct flight in the fourth quarter. Tung said the two airport authorities would ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during an investment and tourism promotion event in Nagoya on February 20. He said Chubu Centrair airport – which is one of the eight largest airports in Japan, has a similar capacity to the Da Nang … [Read more...] about Nagoya-Đà Nẵng direct flight set to launch in 2019
Central city, Qatar Airways to promote daily direct flight
A Qatar Airways flight lands at Da Nang International Airport. The central city and the Middle Eastern airline plan to promote the weekly Doha-Da Nang direct flight. — Photo courtesy Da Nang Tourism Department The central city’s tourism department, in co-operation with Qatar Airways, plans to launch a daily flight to meet the increasing demand between Da Nang and Doha, Qatar in the near future after the weekly direct flight debuted last December. Deputy director of the department, Nguyen Xuan Binh said the plan was unveiled at a tourism meeting in the city last week. Binh said it was positive plan that the two sides had been discussing in the strategy of tourism promotion among central destinations in Viet Nam and the Middle East. Binh said the launch of the direct flight had offered more chances for tourists and overseas Vietnamese visiting central Viet Nam via Da Nang international airport. He said Da Nang could be easily linked with world heritage destinations in … [Read more...] about Central city, Qatar Airways to promote daily direct flight
VietJet inks deal to open direct flights between HCM City, Brisbane
The deal was inked in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is on an official visit to Australia, James McGrath – Assistant Minister to the Australian Prime Minister, and officials of Vietnam and Australia. Representatives of VietJet and the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) sign a cooperation agreement to open a direct route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane The direct route linking HCM City and Brisbane is scheduled to open in 2019. CEO and Managing Director of BAC Julieannne Alroe said the travel frequency between Queensland and Vietnam has risen by an average of 8 percent annually over the last five years. VietJet selected Brisbane as the first destination in Australia for a direct flight with HCM City given the Vietnamese southern metropolis is one of the five biggest markets of Brisbane but there is yet a direct route between them. Vice Chairman of VietJet Nguyen Thanh Hung said the carrier has continually upgraded its fleet and … [Read more...] about VietJet inks deal to open direct flights between HCM City, Brisbane
Vietnam Airlines concerned about losses from first direct flights to US
Lack of passengers is likely to be one of the biggest challenges facing Vietnam Airlines if it opens direct flights to the U.S., according to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV). Up to 90 percent of passengers flying between Vietnam and the United States are tourists and Vietnamese students, said the CAAV, explaining that they are not a stable source of passengers for the airline. The number of Vietnamese students in the U.S. increased for the 16th year in a row to more than 22,400 in the 2016-2017 academic year, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, new data shows. Vietnam remained the sixth leading economy of origin for all international students in the U.S, according to the annual Open Doors report by the U.S.-based Institute of International Education, which focuses on international student exchange and aid, foreign affairs and international peace and security. Another reason non-stop flights to the U.S may be unprofitable is that students and tourists … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines concerned about losses from first direct flights to US
Vietnam Airlines concerned about US direct flights
General Director of Vietnam Airlines Duong Tri Thanh said that it would take a long time to break even or make profit through direct flights to the US. He spoke to DTiNews about the opening the Vietnam-US direct air route which was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Vietnam Airlines General Director Duong Tri Thanh According to Thanh, it would not be easy to complete legal procedures for the air route. It was already quite difficult just to export dragon fruit and litchi into the US, so it would be much harder to open the flights to the country due to the strict security requirements. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) worked with Vietnam Airlines for many times and said that the carrier has met requirements to open flights to the US. So, Thanh hoped FAA would approve the CAT1 aviation safety rating for Vietnam Airlines this year. However, Thanh added that, it would be impossible to launch Vietnam-US direct flights this year as many procedures need to be … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines concerned about US direct flights
VN Airlines to open direct flights to U.S. in 2018
As planned, the route will make it easier for U.S. passengers to revisit former battlefields, resorts and scenic spots in Viet Nam.According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam, Vietnamese airlines must meet CAT1 requirements set by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which are specifically for non-stop flights to the U.S. Under the requirements, the air carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with U.S. carriers. The plan is part of the national scheme on developing direct flights between Viet Nam and key markets that include the U.S., China, Russia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Australia, France, the UK and India.The government scheme will also seek to open direct flights to other potential markets such as the United Arab Emirates and South Africa in order to boost trade and tourism.By 2020 Vietnamese airlines … [Read more...] about VN Airlines to open direct flights to U.S. in 2018