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Jetstar Pacific has started operating two direct services to Osaka, Japan, from Hanoi and Danang in Vietnam, making Jetstar Pacific the first – and currently the only – low fares carrier to offer direct connections from Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi and Vietnam’s most popular idyllic beach destination of Danang to Japan’s cultural-cuisine haven of Osaka.

This also marks the first time where Vietnam and Japan are directly connected by two low-fares services, benefitting not only visiting friends and relatives, business travellers, but serves to boost travel demand between the two nations.

Both services are operated by the Airbus A320s aircraft, with four weekly flights from both Hanoi and Danang.

Jetstar Pacific’s inaugural flight, BL164, departed from Danang International Airport (DAD) at 14:30 with close to 170 passengers and is estimated to land at at Kansai International Airport (KIX) at 21:15 pm. The first flight from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to Ha Noi will depart at 22:15 with close to 180 passenger and it's to land at Noi Bai International Airport (NBA) at 0:40 on 2 September

CEO of Jetstar Pacific, Nguyen Quoc Phuong said there were over 20,000 passengers registered to purchase tickets for flights between Hanoi and Osaka as well as Da Nang and Osaka. The load factors for both flights surpassed the 90 per cent mark.

 “We are most delighted to welcome the increasing number of passengers between both countries. By providing affordable flight tickets, these two new services will offer entrepreneurs and holiday-makers an affordable air passage between the two countries.

 “Customers can also make use of the vast Jetstar network to connect to the rest of Japan on sister airline Jetstar Japan, and to the rest of Asia Pacific – to more than a total of 80 destinations across 17 countries,” Mr Phuong said.  

Ticket prices start at VND1,500,000 (USD68.18 or JPY7,500), available via www.jetstar.com, booking offices or travel agents.

Vietnam and Japan have a long history of partnerships and collaborations, dating back to the 8^th century. Today, Japan is Vietnam’s leading economic and commercial partner.

There are currently some 15,000 Japanese living and working in Vietnam, with another 18,000 Vietnamese residing in Japan. In terms of tourism, Vietnam has welcomed more than 740,000 Japanese travellers in 2016, and this number is predicted to grow, adding to the demand of the services that had just been launched by Jetstar Pacific.

Jetstar Pacific is Vietnam’s first low fares airline, currently operating 37 domestic and international routes. Jetstar Pacific has two shareholders – Vietnam Airlines and Qantas Airways.

Passengers can visit www.jetstar.com or hotline 19001550 for more detailed information.