VN to start flights to London this year

[lingua101]

But like MAN Flyer said, it doesn't seem to be about what VN wants or what makes commercial sense. I heard about 3-4 years back that SQ was considering downgauging HAN to MI, but the Vietnamese powers-that-be weren't too excited and took this up at the G2G level

hmmm is Vietnamese government soo powerful? or just simply just the traffic justify it?

if i am not wrong VN flies a A332 on HAN-SIN daily. while SGN is serve twice a day with A320

[SilverChris]

There's always the option of SGN-HAN-LGW, at a more attractive frequency.

[MAN Flyer]

I think that's the problem for VN. They can really decide if SGN or HAN is their main hub.

Both cities are equally important. One is the commercial hub and the other is the nation capital.

Do you actually realise that the explanation for the first line of your expert analysis is contained in the second ?. Come to think of it....

For VN, they should decide on their main hub says SGN, then do shuttle between HAN-SGN to feed to their long haul international flights....

You should write to them with this ground breaking idea.

But like MAN Flyer said, it doesn't seem to be about what VN wants or what makes commercial sense.

Quite.

The keyboard generation and the airline CEO's in waiting it produces...

[inkoherent]

I think that's the problem for VN. They can really decide if SGN or HAN is their main hub.

Both cities are equally important. One is the commercial hub and the other is the nation capital.

Even AF when they are still transiting via BKK, some days they flew to SGN, and some days they flew to HAN.

For VN, they should decide on their main hub says SGN, then do shuttle between HAN-SGN to feed to their long haul international flights....

But like MAN Flyer said, it doesn't seem to be about what VN wants or what makes commercial sense. I heard about 3-4 years back that SQ was considering downgauging HAN to MI, but the Vietnamese powers-that-be weren't too excited and took this up at the G2G level

[lingua101]

It's actually four times a week from Vietnam to London, twice from SGN and twice from HAN.

I think that's the problem for VN. They can really decide if SGN or HAN is their main hub.

Both cities are equally important. One is the commercial hub and the other is the nation capital.

Even AF when they are still transiting via BKK, some days they flew to SGN, and some days they flew to HAN.

For VN, they should decide on their main hub says SGN, then do shuttle between HAN-SGN to feed to their long haul international flights....

[MAN Flyer]

Twice a week and to Gatwick? Indeed a scary way to London..

It's actually four times a week from Vietnam to London, twice from SGN and twice from HAN.

[SilverChris]

Twice a week and to Gatwick? Indeed a scary way to London..

[MAN Flyer]

A mate in Saigon just sent me this.

Bolding is mine. I am told that VN's team in the UK have been offered an excellent 'deal' by LGW, only to go back to Hanoi and be told they powers that be want to fly to Heathrow not Gatwick, naming 'prestige' as a major factor.

Well it appears common sense has prevailed over 'prestige' and LGW is the choice.

They have unspurprisingly had to fudge the Vietnam end and they will start off with two flights a week to both SGN and HAN, despite them wanting mainly SGN. They do get a bit shirty up North over these things.

[KeithMEL]

Glad to see yet another choice on the Kangaroo route, albeit a Scary one. I wonder if they'll align their schedules with their Australian routes to get a slice of that market.

[Kyo]

Scaryteam has a new SE Asian hub!

Sounds like they're not sure if it's ex-HAN or SGN...

[MAN Flyer]

A mate in Saigon just sent me this.

Bolding is mine. I am told that VN's team in the UK have been offered an excellent 'deal' by LGW, only to go back to Hanoi and be told they powers that be want to fly to Heathrow not Gatwick, naming 'prestige' as a major factor.

A conference on the plan to open a direct flight route between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to London was jointly held by the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, and the Vietnamese Embassy in London on April 19.

Vietnam Airlines President and CEO Pham Ngoc Minh mentioned the fast growth in both countries’ relations in recent years and the UK, one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners in the European Union, as a preferential candidate for the launch of this route.

The increasing demand for trade and investment in Vietnam and the UK has pushed both countries’ citizens to use planes as a means of transport. In 2010 the number of passengers from the UK to Vietnam reached nearly 90,000, up 28 percent over 2009.

Moreover, with more than 47,000 Vietnamese people working and studying the UK, the direct flight route will bring great benefit for cooperation in airline sectors between the two nations.

After conducting research and surveys at UK’s two major airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, Vietnam Airlines plans to launch the direct route by the end of this year.

According to the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Vu Quang Minh, Vietnam Airlines’ plan has received great support from both governments as was said in a joint declaration on the establishment of the two countries’ strategic partnership to boost trade, investment, and tourism and education cooperation signed in September 2010.

The UK Trade and Investment (UKIT) Deputy Director in Asia, Rob Lally, said that Vietnam is one of the favourite destinations for British people and more and more investors are keen on investing in financial services and infrastructure in Vietnam.

The direct flight route will create a chance for Vietnam to become a popular stop for European visitors before traveling to famous tourism sites in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Vietnam Airlines plans to use Boeing B777-200ER aircraft for this route and there will be four flights per week in the first phase. By 2014 it will increase to seven flights per week.