Vietnam Airlines planning direct flights to Frankfurt in Q4
HANOI: Vietnam Airlines said it wanted to begin direct flights to Frankfurt in the fourth quarter of this year to replace its current stopping service to the German city. Duong Chi Thanh, the national flag carrier's director of passenger marketing, said the company was in negotiations with German aviation authorities over the commencement of the direct service.
"We need further discussions on the technical details," he said. "If we can reach agreement we hope to start non-stop flights in November." In January Vietnam Airlines begun twice-weekly flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Frankfurt with stopovers in Hanoi and Moscow. Thanh said next month it would add a third flight to the weekly schedule.Frankfurt is the airline's second Western European destination after Paris.
In June last year, the state-owned company begun a thrice-weekly non-stop service to the French capital from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines, which flies to around 25 international destinations, announced plans in January to double its fleet by 2010 in a bid to establish itself as a major player in the regional aviation industry. It currently has 34 wholly-owned or leased planes but envisages operating 49 aircraft by 2005, increasing to 73 by 2010.
Agence France Presse - March 9, 2004
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