The budget carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines officially launched direct air routes linking Ha Noi, Da Nang City and Japan’s Osaka City last week.

With the launch, Jetstar became the first low-cost airline to offer direct service between Viet Nam and Japan.

The airline operates four round trips per week using the 180-seater Airbus A320 on the two routes. One-way tickets have been sold from mid-June priced from US$68.18, exclusive of taxes and fees.

Nguyen Quoc Phuong, Jetstar Pacific general director, said that more than 20,000 tickets for both routes have been booked so far. The two first flights reported an occupancy of over 90 per cent.

At present, there are about 16,000 Japanese people living and working in Viet Nam, while around 180,000 Vietnamese are living and working in Japan.

Last year, Viet Nam welcomed more than 740,000 Japanese tourists, and the number is expected to grow, especially with the launch of the low-cost air services. — VNS