PM Phạm Minh Chính (centre) and Vietnamese delegates witnessed the signing ceremony. Photo of VNA

Vietnam Airlines (VNA) on March 5 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the nonstop service between Việt Nam and Australia and welcomed the six millionth passenger on this flight.

The event took place within the framework of the official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính.

In the early 90s, Vietnam Airlines operated routes to Australia with irregular flights every month between HCM City and Sydney and Melbourne using Boeing 767 and Airbus A310 aircraft. In the following years, the airline launched more regular direct flights to Australia and continuously increased flight frequency.

The airline now operates five routes including Hà Nội, HCM City - Melbourne; Hà Nội, HCM City - Sydney and HCM City – Perth, with a frequency of 23 flights per week. All routes are operated by wide-body Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft according to international 5-star service standards.

In 30 years since entering the Australian market, Vietnam Airlines has conducted more than 12,800 flights, and transported six million passengers and nearly 170,000 tonnes of goods. This result has shown the effectiveness and strong contribution of the flight route to Việt Nam and Australia relations.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister affirmed that the event marked 30 years in which Vietnam Airlines made important achievements, but the key is that in the next 30 years the airline must make even more achievements than the past, because the past period has laid the foundation for development and the next 30 years will be about acceleration and breakthrough.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked Australia, specifically Australian citizens who choose Vietnamese airlines to come to Việt Nam with affection and for the development of relations between the two countries; contributing to cultural connection and promoting aviation economic development of the two countries. — VNS