Vietnam Airlines Plans More Direct Routes to Japan, Germany

Vietnam Airlines Plans More Direct Routes to Japan, Germany

Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) will open more direct flights to Japan and Germany, while considering several other destinations in 2005, according to the airline's spokesperson.

By mid-2005, a route linking the southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh City and Nagoya in central Japan will be established, Nguyen Chan said.

The carrier will also open one more direct route to Frankfurt, apart from the existing bi-weekly service from Ho Chi Minh City to the Germany's business center, its second European destination after Paris.

"We are trying to accelerate preparations to meet the targets set but progress also depends on the foreign partners,: Chan said.

The national flag carrier will also consider routes to Western Australia, India, Indonesia and the west coast of the US, he said.

The State-owned airline carried a record of five million passengers in 2004, leading to a 16 per cent rise in revenues to US$1.1 billion.

Passenger numbers are forecast to grow 13.6 per cent cent this year to 5.7 million, the company said.

• thanhniennews