Air India adding Vietnam, Tokyo connections

Air India announced the launch of two new international routes as part of its continued expansion across Asia. Beginning 01 May 2026, Air India will operate non-stop flights between Delhi and Hanoi, thus making Hanoi the airline’s second gateway in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City. Air India will also operate non-stop flights between Mumbai and Tokyo (Haneda) from 15 June 2026, in addition to its Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda) services. The new services to Hanoi will operate five times a week, complementing daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City. This provides greater flexibility to travellers who intend to visit Vietnam with open jaw itineraries, i.e. entering from Hanoi and exiting Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa. Air India will deploy its A320neo aircraft on the Delhi-Hanoi route, featuring world-class cabin interiors across Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The opening of this new route adds 7,028 seats to and from Vietnam each month. Air India flights to and from Vietnam enable convenient connections to several destinations across the airline’s domestic and international route networks, including the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. The new services between Mumbai and Tokyo (Haneda) will operate four times a week with Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Recently, Air India increased frequency between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda), going from 4x weekly to 7x weekly. Effective 14 February 2026, the airline has also upgraded its product offering on the route with its B787-9 aircraft, featuring world-class cabin interiors and introducing Premium Economy on the route for the first time. With this, Air India guests travelling to Japan now experience a transformed onboard flying experience with new cabin interiors, modern inflight entertainment systems, WiFi internet connectivity, and refreshed inflight meal menus and beverage collection. Air India has an active codeshare partnership with fellow Star Alliance member airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), to provide its guests convenient onward connections from Tokyo Haneda to 6 other major cities in Japan, namely Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo. Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Since Air India’s privatisation, we have significantly grown our network across Southeast Asia and the Far East, having added several new routes, optimised flight schedules to enable convenient cross-continent connections, forged new partnerships with other carriers, and deploying upgraded cabin products progressively.” He added: “Japan and Vietnam have both emerged as fast-growing destinations for Indian travellers, while India’s economic and commercial ties with both nations continue to deepen and present more opportunities for business and trade on both sides. The launch of these new routes supports this growth and strengthens our presence in the region.” Japan has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing outbound destinations for Indian travellers. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, over 3,15,000 Indians visited Japan in 2025, representing a 35% increase over 2024 and nearly 80% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels. Vietnam continues to gain popularity among leisure travellers and corporate groups alike for its soaring tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) movements. The country now ranks as the third-most-visited country in Southeast Asia, having recorded over 20 million visitors in 2025. China Eastern moves to year-round Brisbane flights (PHOTO: Brisbane Airport) Mainland China’s second‑largest carrier will now operate daily year‑round services from Shanghai to Brisbane, with China Eastern Airlines increasing capacity from 15 June 2026. The permanent move from 5 flights per week to 7 will deliver an annual capacity of almost 100,000 seats between Shanghai and Brisbane. The route connects Queensland directly with one of the world’s largest hubs, offering seamless connections to 244 destinations from Shanghai including other Chinese cities, Asia, Europe and North America. Shanghai also serves as a vital economic gateway for mainland China, with the increased capacity supporting trade and investment opportunities between Queensland and China. Visitors from China remain Brisbane Airport’s third largest inbound international market. Passengers travelling on Chinese passports rose by 19% to 315,000 annual passengers in 2025. Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said China Eastern Airlines increased frequency reinforced Brisbane’s reputation as a globally connected gateway to Australia for Asian travellers. “Chinese visitors are an important market for Brisbane and they’re also among the highest spenders. Daily flights will give Chinese visitors the confidence and convenience to choose Queensland first and discover our beaches, wildlife, food and lifestyle. The boost in capacity will also help deepen business, cultural and trade ties with China, boosting export capacity on the route. China Eastern Airlines’ daily flights will also give  Queenslanders seamless access to China’s vast domestic network and beyond. Australians can now enjoy a taste of China on their travels with visa-free stopovers up to 30 days to savour Shanghai’s soup dumplings and pork buns, embark on a shopping spree on Nanjing Road and marvel at the famous light displays at The Bund.” Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the year-round-daily flights would take Queensland tourism to new heights. “Queensland is the home of the holiday, and more direct flights mean even more visitors can experience our world‑class destinations,” Minister Powell said. “Daily year‑round services from Shanghai will welcome thousands of additional travellers, supporting our tourism operators right across the state. Every new flight into Queensland delivers a boost to our economy, strengthening local businesses, creating jobs, and ensuring our visitor industry continues to thrive.” The increased capacity is supported by the Queensland Government and Brisbane Airport through the Connecting Queensland Fund. China Eastern General Manager Brisbane Cathy Huang said the capacity increase would help facilitate connection between Australia and China. “As China Eastern Airlines continues to increase its flight frequency on the Brisbane route, economic cooperation and connectivity between China and Australia will become even closer, paving a more efficient and convenient air corridor for business travel, cultural exchanges, and tourism. Seizing this strategic opportunity, China Eastern Airlines will further strengthen its role as an ‘air bridge’ facilitating two-way exchanges between China and Australia, contributing to the advancement of bilateral economic cooperation, cultural engagement, and family visit travel.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]