The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, officially launched the Ho Chi Minh City-central Thanh Hoa province air route, with the first flight landing Tho Xuan Airport, Thanh Hoa on February 5.

With five flights using Airbus A321 per week, the air route, Vietnam Airlines’ 39 th domestic one, is expected to meet increasing local travel demand, especially during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

The route is hoped to help promote investment and socio-economic development in Thanh Hoa and the Northern Central region thanks to its link with Ho Chi Minh City , the country’s largest economic hub.

On the occasion, Vietnam Airlines also launched a promotional ticket programme for the route users.

Before the debut of the new air route, the number of passengers travelling between Thanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City via Vinh Airport in Thanh Hoa’s neighbouring Nghe An province varied from 60,000 to 70,000 per year.-VNA