Vietnam Airlines plans to open two new routes between HCM City and Jakarta and between Hanoi and Phu Quoc resort island on December 2, the national flagship airlines said on Nov. 20.

The airlines will have four Airbus A321 flights per week between HCM City and Jakarta . This is the first direct air link between Vietnam and Indonesia and also the second international route Vietnam Airlines will offer this year.

The airlines will also have five flights per week between Hanoi and Phu Quoc.

Earlier on Nov. 19, the central province of Thanh Hoa said Vietnam Airlines will serve its first passengers travelling between Thanh Hoa and HCM City at Sao Vang airport on the first day of 2013.

The Sao Vang Airport is a military airport in Tho Xuan district of Thanh Hoa province. In May, the airport was upgraded to become a civil and military airport with capital coming from the province’s budget.

The number of passengers travelling from Thanh Hoa to HCM City via Vinh airport reached 60,000-70,000 each year, according to Vietnam Airlines. The airlines expected the figure to increase by 15 percent in the airport's first year of operation and to see a year-on-year surge of 20 percent.-VNA