The growing popularity of Vietnam as a destination for British travellers has been underlined by the announcement that Vietnam Airlines will be increasing its flights from Gatwick for the summer season.
The expansion to the air carrier’s schedule will see an additional weekly service to Ho Chi Minh city, taking the number of weekly flights to that destination to three, while it will maintain its flights to Hanoi at the present two per week.
British travellers’ burgeoning fascination with Vietnam is likely to be further strengthened over the coming months as a number of Anglo-Vietnamese events are scheduled to take place to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The programme of educational and cultural events is likely to boost the number of British visitors to the Far Eastern country beyond the 100,000 that are currently making the trip each year, and Vietnam Airlines is anticipating the increase with its new flight.
The head of airline relations at Gatwick Airport, Matt Wood, said, ‘We are delighted that Vietnam Airlines has decided to expand its services from London Gatwick during the summer months, ensuring that both business and leisure passengers now have even more choice of when to fly to this fantastic destination. Air links to high-growth markets such as Vietnam are essential in ensuring that the UK can compete and make the most of the significant trade opportunities available with key emerging markets.
Gatwick continues to demonstrate that it can open up these links but also, by working closely with our airlines, make them a success.’
