Daily service from Monday; A330-200 deployed
Parata Air has launched a new Incheon-Hanoi route, targeting the northern Vietnam market with a strategy to capture both tourism and corporate travel demand while building a transit network for future long-haul expansion.
The airline held an inaugural ceremony at Incheon International Airport on Monday and operated its first flight on the route. CEO Yun Cheol-min and other executives attended to greet passengers on the maiden flight, which recorded a 100 percent load factor.
The Incheon-Hanoi route operates daily, seven days a week. Flights depart Incheon International Airport at 7:55 p.m., with the return service leaving Hanoi at 12:20 a.m. local time. The route is served by an A330-200, which also offers a business smart class cabin.
Hanoi, Vietnam's political and economic hub, draws steady demand from tourists and business travelers alike. The new route adds to Parata Air's existing Vietnam services to Da Nang and Nha Trang, strengthening the carrier's overall Vietnam network.
The Hanoi route is also expected to serve as a key pillar in expanding a transit network connecting Japan and Southeast Asia through Incheon International Airport. The airline plans to increase its share of transit passengers as it works toward entering long-haul markets.
Parata Air had been laying groundwork in Vietnam ahead of the launch. In April, it signed an MOU with the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (KOCHAM) Hanoi chapter to build a framework for expanding corporate travel demand and providing air services to member companies.
"Hanoi is an important market with abundant corporate and business travel demand, not just tourism," Yun said. "Through this launch, we will offer customers a wider range of options while continuing to build the foundation for expanding our transit network and entering long-haul routes."
Meanwhile, Parata Air has been actively working to broaden customer options and improve passenger convenience, including launching a new Incheon-Sapporo route on July 6.
eyre@heraldcorp.com
