brisbane,
16
June
2023
Historic first flight from Vietnam to Queensland
New era in relations as ties strengthen
Vietjet Low Res
The first non-stop flight from Vietnam to Queensland will touch down at Brisbane Airport tonight, heralding a new era of strengthened trade, tourism, education and social links.
Vietjet flight VJ83 was 100% full when it took off from Ho Chi Minh City with 377 passengers on board, eager for a taste of Queensland. The new service will offer 39,000 seats to Brisbane each year. Additional tourists will support up to 370 Queensland jobs and boost Overnight Visitor Expenditure by almost $30 million per year right across the State.
The new connection comes 50 years since the Australian Government established diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
Brisbane Airport Corporation Chief Executive Officer Gert-Jan de Graaff hailed the arrival of Vietjet as an exciting new addition to the BNE family.
“Vietnam has been one of the world’s best success stories over the past two decades and now has a generation of people eager to explore the world. With direct flights to Brisbane Airport, their ticket to tour Queensland is just a single 8-hour flight away.”
The service is another win for Queensland’s $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund jointly funded by the Queensland Government and the state’s international airports, and is designed to fast-track the recovery of Queensland’s visitor economy
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe welcomed the historic new service.
“Tonight’s arrival of Vietjet’s history-making maiden flight demonstrates the importance and growing closeness of Queensland’s post-pandemic trade partnership with Vietnam.
“It’s terrific to welcome Vietjet to Brisbane as the first-ever Vietnamese airline to establish a direct air connection with Queensland.
“Ho Chi Minh City is a significant aviation hub and with Vietnam’s economy booming, demand is surging for the iconic world-class holiday experiences Queensland is famous for.
“Our great holiday lifestyle, reunions with Queensland-based family and direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City are primed to make Brisbane a sought-after destination for Vietnamese travellers.
“We’re backing Vietjet with our $200 million aviation war chest for the airline’s potential to generate almost $30 million a year for the rebuild of Queensland’s international visitor economy and support for 370 good Queensland jobs.
“Non-stop flights are also predicted to fast-track growth of Queensland’s Vietnamese international student cohort, which has increased by 24 per cent this year.”
In great news for Queensland exporters, the new service will also unlock thousands of tonnes of freight capacity between Brisbane and Vietnam. Already Queensland sends $20 million worth of products to Vietnam each year including meat, leather products, vegetables and pharmaceuticals. A non-stop service will now allow that to grow.
Vietjet Chief Operating Officer Michael Hickey was in Brisbane for the arrival of the inaugural service.
“Vietjet’s direct flights between the beautiful city of Brisbane and Ho Chi Minh City will ease the travel between the two localities, countries and across the region. Our crew and leaders warmly welcome our passengers on a comfortable, joyful journey with Vietjet.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the launch of the new Vietjet service to “beautiful Brisbane” during a Bilateral Meeting in Hanoi earlier this month.
“That will help the people-to-people relations as well between us, because this is a relationship built through infrastructure and economic activity. But what it comes down to is a relationship between our people that we need to grow in the future.”
Vietjet operates around 450 flights per day across 160 routes, with 52 destinations within Vietnam. It also has potential to deliver passengers to Queensland from across its vast international network which serves India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia and Europe.
Vietjet operates a modern fleet of 100 aircraft and is deploying Airbus A330-300 aircraft onto the brand-new route to Brisbane with a configuration of 12 business seats plus 365 seats in economy. For further information head to vietjetair.com
The three-year deal will support the planned growth of flights to four services per week by year three.
Flight VJ083 will arrive from Ho Chi Minh City every Monday and Friday at 2155 with VJ084 departing Brisbane at 2330.
As Australia’s most connected domestic hub, passengers arriving into Brisbane from Vietnam will be able to connect to 52 destinations across the country, with 30 of them in Queensland.
For media photos of the inaugural flight click here.
Broadcast video also available on request.
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