Vietravel Airlines recently received an additional Airbus A321, registration VN-A295, to boost capacity during the peak year-end holiday and Lunar New Year 2027 travel period.
Alongside its fleet expansion, the airline is broadening its international network. It will launch the Hanoi-Shenzhen route on November 14 and plans to begin Hanoi-Macau services on November 29. The carrier is also working with partners to prepare for ticket sales on the Hanoi-Taipei and Danang-Kaohsiung routes in November.
More China routes offer passengers competitive fares
The expansion of international routes gives passengers more travel options. On some routes, fares are comparable to or lower than domestic tickets, depending on the airline and departure date.
For example, a one-way Vietravel Airlines ticket from Hanoi to Shenzhen on November 22 cost around VND 2.1 million, including taxes and fees. Shenzhen Airlines charged VND 3.2-3.8 million, while China Southern Airlines fares were around VND 4.3 million.
On the same day, a one-way Vietnam Airlines ticket from Hanoi to HCM City was priced at VND 2.1-2.3 million. Vietravel Airlines' Hanoi-Shenzhen fare was therefore comparable to or lower than some options on the domestic route.
The addition of direct flights on the Hanoi-Hangzhou route also gives passengers more scheduling options. From November 22, Vietnam Airlines will operate four weekly round trips on the route using Airbus A321 aircraft, with a flight time of around three hours.
A survey of online ticketing platforms found that Vietnam Airlines' one-way fares from Hanoi to Hangzhou were around VND 4 million. Air China had previously offered fares of around VND 2.8 million on the route, but with early-morning departures. Depending on schedules and demand, passengers may also need to choose connecting itineraries when suitable direct flights are unavailable.
Some other international routes are also recording competitive fares for Lunar New Year 2027. For instance, a Vietjet one-way ticket from Hanoi to Taipei for the first day of the lunar year, February 6, 2027, cost less than VND 2 million. Tickets on the same route and date with China Airlines, Starlux, EVA Air and Vietnam Airlines were priced at around VND 4.1-4.4 million.
These fares reflect prices observed at a particular time and may change depending on seat availability, departure times, ticket conditions and booking dates. They do not establish that international tickets are always cheaper than domestic ones.
Nguyen Quang Trung, deputy general director of Vietnam Airlines, said the Hanoi-Hangzhou route was the next step in the airline's international network expansion strategy, aimed at improving connectivity and meeting travel, trade and tourism demand.
Since the beginning of 2026, Vietnam Airlines has expanded or been expanding its international network to Amsterdam, Colombo, Phuket and Ahmedabad, while increasing frequencies on selected routes to Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Manila, Moscow, Melbourne and Sydney.
A Vietnamese carrier has added another aircraft, strengthening international services at the end of the year (Photo: Q.N).
Airlines add and lease aircraft to meet year-end demand
Alongside adding aircraft to meet immediate demand, Vietnamese airlines are planning further fleet expansion in the coming years.
Vietravel Airlines is implementing a fleet development plan following its restructuring. The airline and Airbus have signed an agreement covering the purchase of 50 next-generation aircraft, comprising 20 A220s and 30 aircraft from the A321 family. The two sides are expected to sign the aircraft purchase contract in the coming period, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.
A Vietravel Airlines aircraft lands at Noi Bai in Hanoi on October 27 (Photo: Q.N).
Vietnam Airlines also signed agreements to lease 19 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from three international aircraft lessors during the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK in July. The airline will lease 10 aircraft from SMBC Aviation Capital, four from Avolon and five from Phoenix Aviation Capital. All 19 aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2028.
Together with 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft it has ordered, this will bring Vietnam Airlines' planned fleet of the type to 69. The airline aims to expand its total fleet to around 151 aircraft by 2030.
Vietjet, meanwhile, continues to work with international partners to secure resources for fleet growth. At the Hello America 2026 investment conference in New York in late September, the airline announced cooperation with SKY Leasing on financing and asset management solutions for five new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the country had 258 aircraft registered under its nationality as of September 22, the highest number on record. Vietjet accounted for 107 aircraft and Vietnam Airlines for 94. The figures also include general aviation, specialised and training aircraft.