Hanoi (VNA) – Budget carrier VietjetAir launched daily flights between  HoChi Minh City and Osaka on December 14, making it the airline’s second directair route connecting Vietnam and the Japanese city, after Hanoi-Osaka route.

“Ho Chi Minh City isVietnam’s largest city as well as the most modern and vibrant financial andtourism hub. We hope more locals and tourists from Japan and Vietnam will enjoytravelling and trading between these two countries thanks to Vietjet’s fun andaffordable flights, Chief Commercial Officer of KansaiInternational Airport Gregory Jamet said at the launching ceremony at theairport.

“We expect that theairline will continue to expand its flight network to Kansai Airport,delivering even more convenience and exciting experiences to their customers,”he added.

On this occasion,passengers on the flight from HCM City to Osaka were treated to cosplayperformances showcasing Japanese culture and souvenirs onboard Vietjet Air’sinaugural flight.

Vietjet Air operatesreturn flights of more than five hours per leg between HCM City and Osaka everyday. The flight departs from HCM City daily at 1:40 and arrives in Osaka at8:30. Coming back, the flight takes off in Osaka at 9:30 and lands at HCM Cityat 13:30 (all local times).

The low-cost carrierlaunched its first direct flight connecting Hanoi and Osaka on November8, 2018.

Using new A321neo aircraft, the Hanoi-Osakaroute operates a daily return flight with a time of just over fourhours per leg. The flight departs from Hanoi at 1.40 and arrives inOsaka at 7:50 (local time). In the other direction, the flight takes offin Osaka at 9:20 (local time) and lands in Hanoi at around 13:05.

This is the first international route in the code-share programme betweenVietjet Air and Japan Airlines. The code-share service is also applied todomestic flights connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and DaNang, and Hanoi and Da Nang.

The carrier plans to open another direct air route from Hanoi to Tokyo (Narita)on January 11, 2019.

With a fleet of more than 60 aircraft, Vietjet Airoperates 385 flights each day. The airline has already transported more than 60million passengers on a network featuring 93 routes in Vietnam and across theregion to international destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, the Republicof Korea, China’s Taiwan and Hong Kong, mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia,Myanmar and Cambodia.–VNA