Foreign airlines are racing to open 'unusual' routes to Vietnam.

Opening routes to Vietnam that no one else has yet operated, or routes that already exist but with incredibly low prices, is proving to be an effective business strategy for some foreign airlines.

Having launched its first route between Da Nang and Bangkok last May, Bangkok Airways initially operated with a frequency of two flights per week. By February of this year, the airline had increased the frequency to one flight per day on this route.

"We have been very successful on the route to Da Nang, so this time we decided to open a route connecting Bangkok with Phu Quoc," Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Deputy General Director in charge of business at Bangkok Airways, shared with Vietnamese journalists during a recent meeting.

According to the plan, the first direct flight connecting Vietnam's leading seaside resort city and Thailand's capital will begin operating at the end of this month. Each week, Bangkok Airways will operate a total of four round-trip flights departing from Bangkok on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays using ATR 72-600 aircraft with 70 seats.

This is the first Thai airline to operate direct flights to Phu Quoc Island. The airline's goal is to provide connecting flights for tourists from Europe, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as to participate in international passenger transport to Phu Quoc from long-haul flights of long-haul joint venture partners.

“The rapidly developing economy in Phu Quoc sees potential in terms of tourism demand from local and native residents, while Phu Quoc is now considered a ‘paradise island,’ attracting a large number of tourists from all over the world every year,” commented Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya.

In 2016, Phu Quoc welcomed 1.45 million tourists. Mr. Songkrot Palakawong Na Ayuthaya, Director of Communications at Bangkok Airways, stated that thanks to the 30-day visa exemption policy for foreign tourists, Phu Quoc is now considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, attracting a large number of European tourists annually, especially from Germany, the UK, France, Switzerland, and Russia. This is also why the airline wants to capitalize on this opportunity by being a pioneer.

“Phu Quoc is currently a new and attractive tourist destination, drawing a large number of Southeast Asian and European visitors who wish to return annually. I believe this direct connection will bring long-term benefits to the sustainable development of the tourism industry in Thailand and Vietnam in the future,” Mr. Songkrot Palakawong Na Ayuthaya optimistically stated.

The number of New Zealand visitors to Vietnam increased by 119.5% in the first seven months of the year.

Possessing exclusive direct flight routes connectingAuckland – Ho Chi Minh City,Air New Zealand kWhile not disclosing specific results, the airline confirmed that the route had two successful seasons in 2016 and 2017. Therefore, in 2018, the airline will operate two direct flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays connecting the two cities between June 23rd and October 23rd, 2018.

Cam Wallace, Director of Sales and Commercial at Air New Zealand, said that after experiencing the airline's direct flights to Vietnam during the 2016 season, passengers from New Zealand were very excited and delighted about Vietnam as a destination.

“More and more tourists are falling in love with Ho Chi Minh City, which also serves as a gateway to experiencing tourism in Vietnam. Demand for travel to Vietnam is particularly high during the New Zealand students’ winter break in July. Vietnam is one of the most affordable destinations for New Zealanders. It’s no surprise that Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination,” he added.

According to statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first seven months of the year, the number of New Zealand tourists visiting Vietnam was 27,203, an increase of 119.5% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of Vietnamese tourists visiting New Zealand has also increased rapidly in recent years, with over 6,000 visitors in 2016.

Several foreign airlines with a longer history of operation in Vietnam have also been continuously announcing plans to open new routes. Jeju Air, which has been operating in Vietnam since 2014 with the Hanoi-Incheon route, plans to open a new route connecting Nha Trang with Seoul by the end of this year.

As for AirAsia, shortly after launching its exclusive Kuala Lumpur - Nha Trang route, the airline decided to enter the Ho Chi Minh City - Manila route with average ticket prices only about half the price of other airlines on this route. AirAsia's first Ho Chi Minh City - Manila flight is expected to take off next month.

According to VNE