An Airbus A320 aircraft of the airline carried 180 passengers from Da Lat City to Phu Bai Airport in Hue City for the launch ceremony, with a return flight back to Lien Khuong Airport in Da Lat. — File Photo

THUA THIEN - HUE (Biz Hub) — Budget carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines yesterday launched flights connecting tourism hotspots Hue in the central region and Da Lat in the Central Highlands.

An Airbus A320 aircraft of the airline carried 180 passengers from Da Lat City to Phu Bai Airport in Hue City for the launch ceremony, with a return flight back to Lien Khuong Airport in Da Lat.

There will be three return flights a week on the route, operating every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Authorities of Thua Thien Hue Province, in which Hue City is located, expected the 70-minute flights on the route to boost tourism.

Earlier, air travellers had to take flights from Hue to HCM City and then proceed to Da Lat by bus, which was a time-consuming journey.

Passengers travelling on the route will get a 50 per cent discount on the entry tickets to Hue's monuments. However, the duration of this promotional offer is yet to be made known.

Jetstar Pacific Director Le Hong Ha said at the ceremony that operations on the route were potentially productive as 500 passengers have made bookings so far.

Jetstar Pacific is a joint venture of Vietnam Airlines and Australian Qantas Airways.

Phu Bai Airport received an international-standard upgrade in 2013. It can handle 1.5 million passengers a year and its terminal can handle 800 passengers and three A321 aircraft at a time. — VNS