Vietjet launches four new routes between Vietnam and China: Vietjet announced the launch of four new direct routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Beijing and Guangzhou, starting March 30, 2025. This expansion is expected to strengthen bilateral ties between Vietnam and China while unlocking new opportunities for growth across the wider region. Following the successful launch of direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an, the new routes further extend Vietjet’s growing Vietnam-China service. With these additions, the airline will now operate seven direct routes providing 48 weekly round-trip flights between the two countries, significantly enhancing its global flight network. Vietjet will also become the first Vietnamese airline to fly to Beijing Daxing International Airport.
Air Astana announces new route to Vietnam: For the spring-summer schedule, Air Astana will shift its flights to Phu Quoc with a new seasonal route to Nha Trang, Vietnam. Direct flights to Phu Quoc will be operated during the autumn-winter schedule. Service from Almaty to Nha Trang will start on 30th March 2025 with flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flights from Astana will start on 31st March 2025, operating on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The nearest airport to the resort is located in Cam Ranh. The flights will be operated on comfortable Airbus A321LR aircraft. The flight duration is approximately 8 hours from Almaty and 8 hours 40 minutes from Astana. Nha Trang, known as the beach capital of southern Vietnam, is famous for its stunning beaches, diving spots, and picturesque nearby islands. The city is surrounded by majestic mountains and the scenic bay of the South China Sea, ranked 29th among the most beautiful bays in the world. Kazakhstan citizens can enjoy visa-free travel to Vietnam for up to 30 days.
Jetstar Asia raising fares: Escalating operating costs in Singapore and across the region continue to put significant pressure on airlines, particularly low-cost carriers. In response, Jetstar Asia (3K) will increase fares on the majority of routes by SG$4-6 (or equivalent) on jetstar.com and travel agent booking channels, to help cover these costs. This adjustment equates to approximately 1 – 7% increase to the airfare. The price change will be implemented from now for travel from 5 February 2025 onwards. As a Singapore LCC, Jetstar said it remains “committed to offering great value low prices that enable our customers to travel to more places, more often”.
HK Express Starts Flying to Sendai: HK Express Airways (HK Express) announced that its route between Hong Kong and Sendai Airport (SDJ) has officially launched. With four weekly direct flights to Sendai, travellers can easily immerse themselves in the endless charm of Japan’s Tohoku region. Also, with HK Express’s extensive network, travellers can “Gotta Go” to explore 10+ fantastic destinations in Japan, making the most of the exciting “Open Jaw” travel experience. “As Hong Kong’s only low-cost carrier, we’re dedicated to providing affordable fares and a variety of value-added services to meet our customers’ needs,” said HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao. “Recognised as the world’s fastest-growing airline in 2024, we are excited to continue our growth journey with the launch of our first new destination in 2025: Sendai, Japan. This expansion reflects our commitment to providing more travel options and connecting our passengers to new and exciting places. With the launch of the Sendai route, we’ve increased our weekly flights between Hong Kong and Japan to nearly 170 flights to and from Hong Kong respectively. Our customers can now embrace the spirit of ‘Live More’ and choose to travel from a wide range of major cities in Japan with ease.”’
Hong Kong Airlines takes off to Australia’s Gold Coast: Hong Kong Airlines celebrated the first flight between Hong Kong and Australia’s Gold Coast, marking the airline’s return to become the first local carrier to reinstate this highly anticipated route after several years. Operating seasonally from 17 January to 15 February 2025, the service covers four flights per week for a four-week period encompassing the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. The route is operated by an A330 wide-body aircraft, offering both business and economy-class seating. First flight HX015 to Gold Coast arriving at the Gold Coast Airport at 8:55 am local time Saturday. Passengers are welcomed by a lively traditional lion dance performance arranged by the Gold Coast Airport. Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Yan Bo stated, “We are delighted to have a full flight of passengers on our first voyage, with around 300 travellers coming to experience Queensland’s warm climate and exciting tourist activities. We also look forward to welcoming visitors from the Gold Coast and the Queensland region to Hong Kong during our operation period, inviting them to immerse in the vibrant atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and enjoy authentic Hong Kong cuisine.”
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