Flights resume Nov. 5, first time in over 3 years

Carrier eyes Americas transit connections, cargo growth

[Provided by Air Premia]
[Provided by Air Premia]

Hybrid carrier Air Premia said Friday it will resume service on the Incheon–Ho Chi Minh City route starting Nov. 5.

The resumption comes about three years and two months after the airline suspended the route in September 2023.

Air Premia will operate the route five times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outbound flights depart Incheon International Airport at 6:40 p.m. and arrive at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 11 p.m. local time. Return flights depart Ho Chi Minh City at 12:30 a.m. local time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving at Incheon International Airport at 7:40 a.m.

The schedule is subject to change pending government approval, and passengers should confirm their flight details before departure.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest economic hub and commercial center, drawing steady business travel as well as strong leisure demand. Air Premia said it plans to use the resumed route to capture transit traffic connecting to its Americas routes via Incheon, while also strengthening its passenger and cargo competitiveness in the Ho Chi Minh City market.

The airline will operate the route with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The cabin features wide premium seats offering more space than standard economy, along with a comfortable economy section, and fares include in-flight meals and checked baggage.

Tickets go on sale Monday on the Air Premia website.

"Ho Chi Minh City is a strategic route with strong business and tourism demand as well as excellent connectivity to our Americas network," an Air Premia official said. "We will continue to expand our transit network and tailor our route operations to customer demand, improving both passenger convenience and our overall competitiveness."

Meanwhile, Air Premia carried 691,768 international passengers in the first half of this year, according to the Aviation Information Portal. Transit passengers totaled 39,110, a 454.2 percent increase from 7,057 in the same period last year. The carrier's transit share of international passengers at Incheon International Airport stood at 5.6 percent, the third highest among South Korean airlines.


eyre@heraldcorp.com