Vietjet launches first-ever direct flights connecting Vietnam and Russia: Vietjet has officially inaugurated its first direct air services between Vietnam and Russia, linking the popular coastal city of Nha Trang with three major cities in Russia’s Far East: Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Blagoveshchensk. The inaugural flights took off on June 15 and June 18 from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk respectively, in a celebratory atmosphere, marking a new chapter in Vietjet’s international expansion. The inaugural service from Blagoveshchensk is scheduled for July 9. Operated in partnership with leading international travel agencies as regular charter services, these new routes offer a seamless journey of under eight hours—significantly reducing travel time compared to connecting services. Each of the three Russian cities is a prominent economic and cultural hub, serving as regional capitals in the Far East. These direct flights are expected to meet the growing demand for travel between Vietnam and Russia, particularly as Russian tourism to Vietnam continues to recover. In the first five months of 2025 alone, Vietnam welcomed over 210,000 Russian visitors, with more than 100,000 arriving in Khanh Hoa province, home to Nha Trang—underscoring the destination’s strong appeal.
Pegasus Airlines launches new direct Turkish routes from London Stansted: Pegasus Airlines continues to expand its route network this summer by adding direct flights from the UK to two new Turkish destinations – Gaziantep and Kayseri. On 21 June, a new direct route between London Stansted and Gaziantep was launched, offering a seamless link to Türkiye’s vibrant southern city, celebrated as the nation’s culinary capital. The once-weekly service departs from London every Saturday at 20:40, with return flights from Gaziantep operating on Sundays at 04:20. On 25 June, a new route connecting London Stansted to Kayseri Airport was launched, offering direct access from the UK capital to the airport serving Cappadocia, renowned for its fairy-tale landscapes. The once-weekly service departs London every Wednesday at 20:40, with return flights from Kayseri operating on Thursdays at 04:30. To celebrate the launch, Pegasus Airlines is giving away a pair of return flights from London Stansted to Kayseri Erkilet Airport. For a chance to win, head to London Stansted Airport’s social media channels to enter before 01 July 2025.
AirAsia X launches new route to Uzbekistan: AirAsia X (AAX) celebrated its growing presence in Central Asia with the announcement of a brand new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, unlocking new adventures in Central Asia after Almaty, Kazakhstan, for Singaporeans via its seamless Fly-Thru services in Kuala Lumpur. Starting from 15 October 2025, AAX will operate three weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tashkent. Travellers from Singapore will be able to conveniently access this route by choosing their preferred layover duration, with 11 daily flights available between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Following AAX’s entry into the region with Almaty, Kazakhstan in early 2024, with a consistently strong load factor and increased flight frequencies, the Tashkent route is aimed at further facilitating air travel between Southeast Asia and Central Asia, fostering stronger trade, tourism and business ties between the regions. This connectivity will also enable more travellers in Asean as well as Australia, to explore Uzbekistan affordability with AirAsia’s seamless Fly-Thru options, spanning over 130 destinations worldwide. Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X said: “The launch of our Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent route is a strategic milestone in AAX’s continued growth across Asia and beyond. Central Asia presents immense potential, with Uzbekistan’s economy growing steadily and a rising middle class eager to explore new destinations. We have seen a strong and growing demand for Central Asia following our successful Almaty route, and our vision is to create a comprehensive network that supports regional development and also connects people to these less-explored destinations whilst creating unforgettable travel experiences along the way. This year as of May, Almaty has quickly emerged as one of the top Fly-Thru destinations from Singapore, contributing to more than 10% of the overall load.”
Etihad adds daily A380 flights to Toronto: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has begun operating its iconic Airbus A380 on daily flights to Toronto, boosting capacity by 31% and marking a new chapter in the airline’s long-standing commitment to Canada ahead of its 20th anniversary. Etihad’s famous big bird was welcomed with a water-cannon salute at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Tuesday 24 June. The upgraded service introduces the unparalleled luxury of Etihad’s flagship A380 aircraft to Canadian skies for the first time. This includes the airline’s award-winning First Apartments and the world’s only three-room suite in the sky, The Residence, offering an exceptional flying experience for guests on the route between Zayed International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The increased capacity responds to strong demand for travel between the UAE and Canada, particularly across business, leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segments. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We are proud to introduce the A380 and offer guests flying between Abu Dhabi and Canada an extraordinary new travel experience with Etihad. Toronto has been a cornerstone of our North American network since 2005, when we became the first airline from the Gulf region to operate flights to Canada. The introduction of our flagship aircraft on this route reflects our deep commitment to the Canadian market.
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