Pho Shizzle! Jetstar breaks monopoly to offer direct flights to Vietnam

Pho Shizzle! Jetstar breaks monopoly to offer direct flights to Vietnam

Jetstar will soon launch Australia’s only low fares direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City from Sydney and Melbourne this May, breaking a monopoly held by Vietnam Airlines.

The carrier announced today its Boeing 787 Dreamliner will operate four times weekly from Sydney and three times weekly from Melbourne direct to the nation’s busiest city.

From Ho Chi Minh City, travellers can fly to 15 other destinations within Vietnam on budget-airline Jetstar Pacific.

Currently, only Vietnam Airlines offers direct services between Australia to Vietnam, and it is expected the new Jetstar non-stop flights will be fierce competition for low-cost rivals, AirAsia X and Scoot who offer one-stop journeys to the country.

Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said Vietnam is one of the fastest growing holiday destinations in South East Asia.

“Vietnam has the potential to become as popular as Bali or Thailand for Australian travellers,” Hrdlicka said.

“We expect our low fares and direct flights will generate even more demand for holidays to Vietnam.”

To celebrate the launch, Jetstar are offering $159 fares one-way in a 12-hour sale* today for select travel dates.

Hrdlicka said it’s expected the new route will also stimulate inbound tourism to Australia.

“In the last 12 months, there has been a 21 per cent increase in visitors from Vietnam to Australia and we expect to see that grow with the introduction of our low fares on the route.

“The growing middle class in Vietnam has made it one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world.”

Flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City will commence on 10 May 2017, and flights from Sydney will commence on 11 May 2017, subject to government and regulatory approval.

*Sale starts at midday AEDT 19 January 2017 and ends 11:59pm AEDT, 19 January 2017.

Image credit: Pho King Good in Auburn, California Credit: Facebook

Latest News