Vietnam

Vietjet is set to launch 2 new international routes, including Da Nang to Jakarta on 29 Apr and Nha Trang to Singapore on 1 Jun 2026. The Jakarta service will operate 5 times weekly, while the Singapore route will run 4 times a week

Vietnam Airlines is adding nearly 1,000 extra seats on its European routes this Mar by deploying larger Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft, specifically for 11 flight pairs serving Munich from Hanoi and HCMC. This strategic capacity boost aims to meet rising travel demand and maintain stable connectivity while safely bypassing Middle Eastern conflict zones through designated air corridors

AirAsia will host AirAsia RedRun, a running event in Da Nang, Vietnam (26 Apr); Bali (10 May) and Surabaya, Indonesia; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (28 Jun); Cebu, the Philippines; Phuket, Thailand; and Taipei, Taiwan in 2026. Over 100,000 participants are expected to take part in 5km, 10km or 21km race categories

Vietnamese airlines face a high risk of aviation fuel shortages from Apr 2026 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. With domestic suppliers only able to guarantee deliveries until the end of Mar, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed raising airfares to combat rising costs and shipment delays

Vietnam’s aviation industry is facing a crisis as jet fuel prices tripled to nearly $200 USD per barrel following Middle East strikes, driving operating costs up by 60-70%. While Gulf carriers have cancelled or adjusted 98 flights to Vietnam, national carriers are attempting to capture diverted transit traffic. To mitigate the impact, the CAAV and Vietnam Airlines are seeking emergency government intervention, including the waiver of environmental taxes, expanded credit limits from the State Bank of Vietnam, and a diversification of fuel supply sources to prevent major disruptions in Apr. Vietnam Airlines has drawn on its Mar fuel reserves and adopted efficiency measures to sustain operations through Apr. The carrier has added around 30 flights to its European network. The Deputy General Director of the airline view the current disruption as a strategic opening, with Gulf competitors largely grounded and facing a slow recovery, Vietnamese airlines have a chance to secure a greater share of transit traffic

To address geopolitical pressures and rising fuel costs, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed a 100% environmental protection tax exemption on aviation fuel until the end of May, alongside a VAT reduction from 10%. The measures include allowing flexible fuel surcharges and adjusting domestic price caps to help airlines maintain operations. Additionally, the CAAV suggested a 50% cut in landing and navigation fees, while urging the Ministry of Industry and Trade to maximise production at the Dung Quat and Nghi Son refineries. To ensure supply stability, the proposal calls for high-level trade discussions with Thailand and China, and requests that the State Bank of Vietnam increase credit limits and guarantees for fuel suppliers

Starting 2 Apr 2026, Vietnam Airlines will operate a new direct route between HCMC and Phuket, featuring 5 flights per week on Airbus A321 aircraft

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), tensions in the Middle East have increased Vietnamese civil aviation costs by around $2,000 USD per flight, forcing Vietnam Airlines to reroute European services through Central or South Asia to avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace. These diversions add 10-15 minutes to flight durations and risk a 10-15% hike in war-risk insurance premiums. In response, the CAAV is coordinating with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam to mitigate these losses by potentially reducing aircraft parking charges and fuel surcharges

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has detained the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) Chairman and Deputy General Director on charges of bidding violations and bribery. The arrests have triggered a major leadership reshuffle. Despite the scandal, the state-controlled operator continues to lead the 100 trillion VND Long Thanh International Airport development, having been officially confirmed as the investor for Phase 2 of the project in Jan 2026

Vietnam Airlines affirmed that its 12 direct routes from Hanoi and HCMC to major European cities, including London, Paris, and Frankfurt, remain operational despite regional tensions. The carrier adjusted its flight paths to avoid affected airspace in the Middle East, though this may result in longer flight times and cause knock-on impacts across the airline's broader network

Ongoing military tensions in the Middle East have led to flight disruptions between Vietnam and the region, with Qatar Airways cancelling 13 services between 3-5 Mar, and affecting over 2,565 passengers. While Emirates and Etihad have also reported cancellations and schedule updates, Turkish Airlines has managed to maintain its normal Hanoi-Istanbul route. To support those affected, Qatar Airways is offering full refunds or fee-free rebookings for travel originally scheduled between 28 Feb and 10 Mar. At Noi Bai International Airport, 33 aircraft are parked for extended periods. On 3 Mar alone, 16 flights were cancelled, affecting about 3,800 passengers

The Ministry of Construction approved a master plan to develop Da Nang International Airport through 2030, with a long-term vision to 2050, aiming for a designed annual capacity of 20 million passengers. Key infrastructure upgrades include expanding the domestic terminal (T1) to handle 14 million travellers and the international terminal (T2) for 6 million, alongside a new 2.46-hectare cargo terminal. By 2030, the airport aims to process 100,000 tonnes of cargo annually, rising to 330,000 tonnes by 2050, while meeting ICAO 4E standards. The apron will be expanded to 52 aircraft parking positions and new taxiways will be constructed to improve efficiency

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) issued urgent safety directives following the escalation of military conflict between the US-Israel and Iran. The CAAV ordered the Air Traffic Management Corporation and airport operators to coordinate support for stranded passengers impacted by schedule changes, cancellations, or route adjustments

Vietnam Airlines will suspend all operations at Lien Khuong International Airport (Lam Dong) from 4 Mar-25 Aug 2026 due to scheduled runway and taxiway repairs. To mitigate the disruption, the carrier is increasing flight frequencies to alternative Central Highlands hubs, specifically Buon Ma Thuot and Pleiku. Affected passengers are eligible for one free date or itinerary change, or a full refund without fees, provided they settle requests by 31 Aug

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, during the Tet holiday: Vietnamese airports handled nearly 2.6 million passengers, +15.9% YoY, including 1.5 million international passengers, and 1.1 million domestic passengers On the peak day of 22 Feb, both major hubs set all-time records, with Tan Son Nhat serving over 182,900 travellers, and Noi Bai handling over 137,700

Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction proposed a draft decree to raise the foreign airline ownership cap from 34% to 49%. This adjustment aims to attract international capital and facilitate restructuring for carriers like Bamboo Airways and Vietravel Airlines by granting foreign investors greater strategic and veto rights. Furthermore, the decree seeks to simplify minimum equity requirements, requiring 300 billion VND for fleets of up to 30 aircraft and 700 billion VND for larger operations, lowering the financial threshold for mid-sized carriers

Vietnam Airlines is set to resume direct flights between HCMC and Phuket on 2 Apr 2026, operating 4 times weekly, breaking Vietjet's current monopoly on the route. Round-trip fares are positioned from $199 USD, slightly higher than Vietjet’s average of 180 USD

Following the 2026 Lunar New Year, airfares on the Hanoi-HCMC route reached record highs, with one-way business class tickets peaking at nearly 10 million VND due to a total lack of economy seats. This surge was driven by a directional imbalance, as workers and students returned south, leaving reverse-route tickets priced as low as 98,000 VND. Despite airlines increasing capacity by 28% to 7.8 million seats, secondary routes from hubs like Buon Ma Thuot saw fares climb to 14 million VND

According to the airport's authorities, from 13-22 Feb, Phu Quoc International Airport handled 767 flights (+46% YoY) and 260,473 passengers (+37% YoY), including 116,830 domestic travellers and 143,643 international visitors. This period served as the first major operational stress test since management was transferred from the state-owned ACV to the private Sun Group

During the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, Da Nang International Airport experienced disruptions after 3 unauthorised drones entered restricted airspace. The incursions affected a total of 54 flights, including 30 flights on 17 Feb and a further 19 on 22 Feb. At least 4 aircraft were diverted to alternate airports, while others were forced into holding patterns or delayed on the ground. Military authorities have since detained a local man for operating a drone in a no-fly zone, facing potential fines of up to 40 million VND

On 22 Feb, Noi Bai International Airport handled a record 124,546 travellers and 702 flights, with congestion eased by the newly expanded Terminal T2 and the full utilisation of 98 check-in counters at Terminal T1. On the same date, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC saw a record 177,859 passengers across 1,069 flights, with the highest pressure on inbound routes as over 104,700 people returned to the city

Sun PhuQuoc Airways announced on 19 Feb that it has entered into a $22.5 billion USD agreement with Boeing for the purchase of 40 787-9 Dreamliner jets. According to an official statement, the acquisition of these new aircraft will facilitate the airline's expansion into intercontinental services, potentially including future direct flights between Vietnam and the U.S.

According to Da Nang International Airport, during the Tet holiday period over 1,500 flights are estimated to arrive at the airport, +36% YoY. Average operations have reached 173 flights per day, up by 46 daily flights YoY

At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., attended by General Secretary To Lam and U.S. government officials, Boeing and Vietnam Airlines announced a landmark agreement for the purchase of 50 737-8 aircraft, marking the carrier's first-ever order for Boeing single-aisle jets. These fuel-efficient aeroplanes, capable of carrying 200 passengers with a range of 3,500 nautical miles, will modernise the airline's regional fleet, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by up to 25% compared to older models. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines said that this strategic investment is a core component of Vietnam Airlines’ ambition to achieve five-star international status by 2030