Speaking at the event, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh congratulated Vietnam Airlines on its performance connecting Vietnam and Thailand over the past 40 years as well as fostering bilateral tourism, trade and cultural exchange.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh congratulating Vietnam Airlines. (Photo: VNA).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: “I believe that the existing potential coupled with the rapid growth in trade and travel demands between the two countries are the key drivers of Vietnam Airlines’ growth and its leading role in the aviation industry.”

Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines Le Hong Ha said: “In view of this special event and the yet to be realized opportunities from the Thailand market, Vietnam Airlines is convinced that it will ‘reach further’ via its air routes connecting the two countries. This is a stepping stone for Vietnam Airlines in its flight network expansion, which holds extra importance in advance of Vietnam Airlines assuming chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020.”

Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines Le Hong Ha at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA).

The Phuket – HCMC route launched on 27 October 2019, with flights departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 15:50 and from Phuket at 18:40 every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. Daily Bangkok – Danang flights depart from Bangkok at 18:00, and from Danang at 15:20 Along with Hanoi / HCMC – Bangkok regular routes, raising total frequency of Vietnam Airlines’ flights between Vietnam and Thailand to 52 flights per week.

Forty years after flight operations were established between the two countries, Vietnam Airlines has continued to deliver safe and efficient aviation services on regular Bangkok – Hanoi/HCMC flights. The carrier consistently strives for improved operational performance and four-star service quality with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner serving the HCMC – Bangkok route.

The launching ceremony took place in Bangkok, Thailand under the witness of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: VNA).

Thailand is one of Vietnam Airlines’ strongest performing aviation markets achieving an average annual growth rate of 15.1% throughout the 2015-2018 period. In 2018, its total market volume grew by nearly 13% yearly, providing service to over 3.5 million passengers. More than 700,000 passengers have been logged between Vietnam and Thailand since early 2019 – 6% higher than the total number of passengers in the entirety of 2018.

Launch of the Bangkok – Danang, and the Phuket – HCMC routes demonstrates Vietnam Airlines’ trend-driven approach of network expansion, further establishing direct connectivity to tourist destinations outside of major airport hubs. The network expansion is essential for Vietnam Airlines in bridging the country to other regional and global cultures and economies as Vietnam is set to assume the Chairmanship at ASEAN 2020.

Nguyen Xuan Nghia – COMM