HCM CITY — Vietjet has launched three new direct routes linking Việt Nam and the Philippines, expanding its regional network and strengthening air connectivity between the two countries.

The new routes connect HCM City with Cebu and Clark, and Hà Nội with Cebu. Each route will operate three round-trip flights per week, the airline said.

The new services complement Vietjet's existing HCM City-Manila route, expanding its connections to major economic and tourism destinations in the Philippines.

Cebu, known for its islands, diving sites and cultural attractions, is expected to benefit from increased visitor flows, while the Clark route will provide access to central and northern Luzon. Vietjet said it is currently the only airline operating direct flights between HCM City and Clark International Airport.

The routes will also provide Filipino travellers with more direct access to Việt Nam's major cities and connections to other destinations through Vietjet's international network, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and China.

Athanasios Titonis, chief executive of Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation, which operates Mactan-Cebu International Airport, said the new services would give residents of Cebu more travel options to Việt Nam while providing Vietnamese visitors with direct access to the Philippine island.

The routes also support the airport's ambition to develop Cebu into a major regional transfer hub, he said.

Meanwhile, Noel Manankil, president and chief executive of LIPAD Corporation, operator of Clark International Airport, said Vietjet's arrival would strengthen the airport's international airline network and improve travel options for residents of central and northern Luzon.

Vietjet chief executive Nguyễn Thanh Sơn said the three new routes reflect the airline's expanding presence in the Philippine market and will help promote tourism, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries. 

To mark the launch, Vietjet is offering promotional Eco-class fares starting at zero đồng, excluding taxes and fees, and a 25 per cent discount on Deluxe fares from now to Thursday.

The airline said the new services form part of its broader strategy to expand international connectivity through its fleet and regional route network. —VNS