Vietnam Airlines on October 9 opened a direct route linking Hanoi and Fukuoka city in Japan’s southern Kyushu island.

Accordingly, the airline will operate two flights every Tuesday and Saturday using Airbus 320 planes. The price for a single ticket will be US $523 while a 14 day return ticket will cost US $567.

The route will help to reduce the travelling time between the two cities to 4 hours.

Vietnam Airlines Vice General Director Trinh Hong Quang said that the launch of the direct flight between the two cities is part of Vietnam Airlines’ plans to finalise its network of routes to Japan’s major markets in a bid to gradually turn Vietnam into a regional transport hub, using Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as main gates.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates 2 flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Fukuoka per week.

He added that with this new route, the airlines is pinning its hopes on diversifying its service, increasing its competitiveness as well as helping to enhancing trade, investment and tourism from Japan’s fourth largest economic centre of Kyushu to Vietnam.

The new route will bring the total number of direct flights from Vietnam to Japan to 40, of which, 24 are operated by Vietnam Airlines, while the remainder are joint ventures with Japan. (VNA)