Budget Vietnamese carrier, Vietjet Air will launch direct flights between Myanmar and Vietnam from October this year.
Operating between Ho Chi Minh and Yangon, the airline will commence service on October 2, 2015, operating five-weekly flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday onboard Airbus A320 aircraft.
“Vietjet is delighted to make our network wider with the additional service from Ho Chi Minh City to Yangon, connecting the two countries’ business, culture and tourism hubs,” said Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh, Vietjet Vice President.
The flight will depart Ho Chi Minh City at 10:25am, arriving into Yangon at 12:10pm. The return flight departs Yangon at 13:00pm, arriving back into Vietnam at 15:35pm.
“As a friendly and forward-thinking modern airline, we are looking forward to making air travel the more affordable and enjoyable for the people of Myanmar, who will be able to travel aboard and enjoy our wide regional flight network with amazing pricing and service,” she added.
Vietnam Airlines is currently the only airline operating return flights between Yangon and Ho Chi Minh City, with three-weekly-flights, as well as five flights a week between Hanoi and Yangon.
Yangon, formerly Rangoon was the capital of Myanmar until it was replaced by Naypyidaw in 2005. With a population of over 5 million people, it remains the largest city and the economic hub of Myanmar.
Vietjet has a fleet of 25 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft operating 150 flights every day. Internationally, the airline already serves Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The airline has recently taken the first delivery of a high-density Airbus A321 aircraft equipped with 230 passenger seats. The A321 had previously been restricted to 220 seats, and central European budger carrier, Wizz Air will also be taking the high-density aircraft later this year.