A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Australia and Vietnam signed on February 11 increases by 3300 seats per week the capacity available to Australian and Vietnamese airlines to operate between the two countries.
According to a statement from Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese, the MOU will now enable airlines from both Australia and Vietnam to:
- fly 14 services a week or about 4200 seats to and from the major gateway destinations of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – an increase of about 1200;
- fly seven services a week or about 2100 seats to and from these destinations if the flights stop over at non gateway Australian airports such as Adelaide, Darwin or Cairns;
- stop over in Hong Kong to drop off and pick up passengers between Australia and Vietnam.
The newly signed MOU finalises the negotiation process between both countries which began in 2010.