Melbourne, March 6, 2024 - On 5 March, Vietnam Airlines celebrated three decades of presence in Australia and welcomed the 6 millionth passenger on this route. The event was held during the official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-level Vietnamese delegation.

In the early 90s, the carrier began its irregular flights to Australia every month between Ho Chi Minh City - Sydney and Melbourne on Boeing 767 and Airbus A310. In the following years, it has grown to provide a nonstop connection to Australia with  increased frequency. The airline now boasts 23 flights per week on 5 routes including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City - Melbourne; Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City - Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City - Perth by the modern wide-body Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.

With three decades of experience and expertise, Vietnam Airlines’ operations of Australian routes have gone from strength to strength, having carried 6 million passengers, more than 12,800 flights, and nearly 170,000 tons of goods. This has connected the two vibrant communities with reliable and convenient service and significantly contributed to the development of Vietnam and Australia relations.

At the event, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam Airlines’ service on the Vietnam and Australia route creates an exciting opportunity for the carrier to break through in the next 30 years. The nonstop service will continue to foster development of the aviation industry as well as trade and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia. The Prime Minister also requested Vietnamese ministries and related bodies to actively support the flag carrier to overcome this challenging time. The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation to Australia, especially Australian citizens for flying with Vietnam Airlines to immerse in the Vietnamese hospitality and rich culture, contributing to the trade and cultural ties of the two countries.

Vietnam and Australia officially established diplomatic relations in 1973. Five decades later, the relationship between Vietnam and Australia has continuously grown. In 2018, the two countries officially announced the establishment of a Strategic Partnership and currently are moving towards a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

Cooperation in the tourism sector continues to flourish, with Vietnam ranked 11th among the most popular destinations for Australian tourists. In the field of aviation, 2023 marked a resilient rebound in passenger traffic of the Australian market with 23% growth compared to 2019, highlighting the highest growth rate compared to other markets that Vietnam Airlines is flying to. 

Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said: "As a national airline, Vietnam Airlines maintained its strong presence in Australia since the early 90s, encompassing wide-ranging cooperation including two-way trade, investment and tourism. We remain committed to expanding our footprint and providing better travel options with impeccable service between Vietnam and Australia.”

Cooperation between Vietnam Airlines and business partners and customers in Australia continue to grow, which entails a number of initiatives aimed at delivering the best value to passengers. The carrier will deepen partnership with agencies, travel companies and partners in Australia to promote tourism and destinations of the two countries.

Under the Vietnam - Australia Business Forum, Vietnam Airlines and RMIT International University announced strategic cooperation on training and research programs in aviation. Cooperation contents include AI research and data, digital transformation, engineering, aviation safety, human resources, student exchange programs, scholarships…