The inauguration of the direct flight between Hanoi, Vietnam and Jakarta, Indonesia, was held on September 4 in the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and senior government and business leaders from both countries during the Prime Minister's visit to Indonesia to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit.

Delegates attend the inauguration of the air route. Photo: Vietjet

The newly launched Hanoi-Jakarta route will be Vietjet's fourth direct flight between Vietnam and Indonesia.

Vietjet, Vietnam's low-cost airline, will operate the route with a frequency of four flights per week. It is expected to provide ideal travel opportunities to explore Jakarta, bringing the total number of flights between the two countries to 92 per week from December this year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and high-ranking delegates congratulated Vietjet and highly valued the direct flight between the two countries' capitals, which will help promote trade and investment between Vietnam and Indonesia.

With a population of 280 million, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous nation, and the bustling metropolitan area of Jakarta is home to over 10 million people.

“My congratulations go to Vietjet Air on the announcement of this groundbreaking direct service linking the capitals of Indonesia and Vietnam, further boosting air connectivity between the two countries," said Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno at the ceremony.

He added that Vietnam and Indonesia account for nearly 60% of ASEAN's population, with bilateral trade growing at 10% annually. Therefore, increased connectivity is essential and will open up more opportunities in sectors such as trade, tourism, investment and sustainable economy, which are the direction and future of the ASEAN economy.

He hoped that Vietjet's flights would bring more visitors to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, and the beautiful islands of Bali.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that in the post-pandemic era, Vietjet's groundbreaking new services are more remarkable than ever as they prevent supply chain disruptions in connectivity and strengthen resilient cooperation between the two countries and in the region.

"The Hanoi-Jakarta route, announced on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership, also contributes to the target of US$15 billion bilateral trade between Vietnam and Indonesia this year. It will open up a host of new and beneficial opportunities, fostering closer ties and cooperation between our two countries, our people and the wider ASEAN region," he added.

The airline aims to carry one million passengers annually between Indonesia and Vietnam, helping to strengthen the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia. These routes will serve as a bridge for cultural and economic exchanges, providing convenient connectivity for both nations and people.