Passegers on the Ha Noi-Hong Kong direct route last year. A new route connecting HCM City and Hong Kong began in November 2016. — VNS Photo

Budget carrier Jetstar Pacific, a member of the Jetstar Group, has begun operating four direct flights to Hong Kong per week from HCM City.

The two-hour 40 minute flights are scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The outgoing flights leave at 9.35am and return flights leave Hong Kong at 2:15pm.

Tickets on the 180-seat Airbus A320s start from VND288,000 (US$12.8), one way, not including taxes and other fees.

This is the career’s second route from Viet Nam to Hong Kong, after a service from Ha Noi debut in 2015.

The airline said the flights are aimed at boosting tourism and business trips and would meet the increasing demand for low-cost travel between the two locations.

Jetstar Pacific, which is a member of Jetstar Group, one of Asia Pacific’s largest low-budget airlines, will receive 10 additional Airbus A320s in 2017. Its two major shareholders, Vietnam Airlines (70 per cent share) and the Qantas Group (30 per cent) expect Jetstar Pacific to have a fleet of up to 30 aircraft by 2020.

Last year, the airline launched new routes from Ha Noi and Da Nang to Macao and from Da Nang to Singapore.

New routes from Ha Noi to Guangzhou and Taipei, and from HCM City to Guangzhou, as well as the Da Nang–Taipei route, will be launched next month. — VNS