India’s Jet Airways officially inaugurated direct air routes between the country’s cities of New Delhi and Mumbai and Viet Nam’s Ho Chi Minh City on November 5.
The move is part of a cooperation agreement signed on October 28 between Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines during Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to India.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh and Jet Airways executives cut the ribbon to officially launch the routes. He also attended a prayer ceremony for the flights’ safe and effective operation.
After the launch, Jet Airways Chief Commercial Officer Raj Sivakumar told reporters that the opening of direct routes to HCM City aims to expand the company’s operations in Southeast Asia, adding that the Vietnamese southern city is its 22nd international destination.
The firm plans to introduce more routes between India and ASEAN countries, including Viet Nam’s capital, Ha Noi.
Sivakumar said direct air routes would help foster the Viet Nam-India partnership in various spheres, particularly tourism, noting that the countries held a large potential for aviation cooperation since a number of Indian travel agencies were offering tours to Viet Nam.