Melbourne Airport welcomed Vietjet’s inaugural flight from Hanoi this morning, as the airline looks to capitalise on the strongest growth market at Melbourne Airport.

The Vietnamese market has grown by 60 per cent from pre pandemic levels, and last year that meant an average of 339 Victorians jetted off to Vietnam every single day.

Prior to the pandemic there were just 10 flights a week to Vietnam with today’s inaugural flight that number now more than doubles to 21 per week, underscoring the strength of the Vietnamese market.

Vietjet’s twice weekly service to Hanoi will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays using an Airbus A330, departing Melbourne at 0730 and touching down in Hanoi at 1440 the same day.

Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said the Vietnamese market growth had been one of the silver linings coming out of the pandemic.

“The huge growth in the Vietnamese market has been made possible by new air services agreements negotiated by the federal government that have provided capacity ahead of demand,” he said.

“The increased competition and capacity in the market delivers benefits to passengers in the form of cheaper fares, but also provides exporters with access to high value markets.

“Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in the region and a key trading partner with Australia, here at Melbourne Airport Vietnam sits in our top ten export market with almost three million tonnes of local products being loaded onto aircraft during the last twelve months.

“Vietjet’s Hanoi service will complement its current five times a week service to Ho Chi Minh City and will give Victorians new connections into countries like India as well as other Asian destinations.

“We know there will be two-way demand for this service, Vietnam is in our top ten outbound destinations, meanwhile the inbound market is supported by strong trade, business and leisure demand.

Quotes attributable to Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh.

“Since Vietjet’s first flight to Australia in April 2023, we have continuously expanded our network connecting the five largest cities in Australia: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide with Ho Chi Minh City.