Vietnamese airlines announced increased flight frequencies and new direct routes to Japan beginning in late 2026, with Vietjet launching a Da Nang to Osaka service on December 20. This expansion aims to meet growing travel demand between the two countries.
Vietjet Opens Da Nang to Osaka Route
Starting December 20, 2026, Vietjet will operate four weekly round-trip flights between Da Nang and Osaka on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays using Airbus A321 aircraft. Since initiating Japan flights in 2018, Vietjet has conducted about 27,400 flights, transporting over 4.8 million passengers across 22 routes and 17 destinations, including major Japanese cities such as Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Osaka,
Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Shizuoka. The airline also operates charter services to Fukushima, Sendai, Niigata, Matsuyama, Sapporo, Komatsu, Ibaraki, Kagoshima, Aomori, and Yonago.
Vietnam Airlines and ANA Holdings Mark 10 Years
Vietnam Airlines and ANA Holdings commemorated a decade of strategic cooperation during the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Japan, signing a new framework agreement to deepen joint venture activities. This agreement expands collaboration in revenue sharing, flight schedules, fare pricing, seat management, sales, marketing, and passenger services, subject to regulatory approvals. The partnership began in 2016 when ANA Holdings became a strategic shareholder of Vietnam Airlines. By October 2026, Vietnam Airlines operated 11
direct routes between Vietnam and Japan with 72 weekly flights.
Flight Networks and Airfares
Vietnam Airlines reported an 18% increase in passenger volume and a 26% rise in revenue from the Japanese market in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the previous year. Vietjet currently flies 138 times weekly between Vietnam and Japan. Ticket prices vary across airlines and routes, with Vietjet offering fares from around 3.8 million VND for Da Nang to Osaka flights scheduled for December 20, 2026. Vietnam Airlines prices start higher, from approximately 7.5 million VND on the same route, while Japanese airlines ANA and JAL offer fares
ranging up to 22 million VND.
Tourism Growth Supports Flight Expansion
Data from the General Statistics Office shows Vietnam received over 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, including 674,000 Japanese nationals. Conversely, Japan welcomed about 551,100 Vietnamese tourists during the same period, marking a 4% increase since 2015. This tourism growth underpins increased airline capacity and new route launches between the countries, coinciding with the Vietnam-Japan Tourism Cooperation Year 2027-2028.
Agreements with Japanese Partners and Strategic Statements
Vietnam Airlines signed memoranda of understanding with Nagasaki and Shimane prefectures and Narita International Airport to explore new routes, organize charter flights, promote destinations, and grow customer sources. Vietnam Airlines’
General Director Le Hong Ha emphasized the airline’s commitment to the joint venture with ANA Holdings, aiming to boost competitiveness and improve passenger services as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen economic and tourism links between Vietnam and Japan.
