Hanoi (VNA) – The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced on February 9 that it will launch a nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam of the Netherlands from June 2026, marking Vietnam’s first direct air route to the European nation.
The new service will raise the number of direct routes between Vietnam and Europe to 12, connecting with eight destinations, including Paris, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, Moscow, and Amsterdam.
Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, said that the nonstop Hanoi–Amsterdam route marks an important milestone in the carrier’s European network expansion strategy.
He added that presence at one of the world’s leading aviation hubs will not only broaden the airline’s business opportunities but also help strengthen economic, trade and investment connection, as well as people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and the Netherlands, and Europe in general.
From June 16, Vietnam Airlines is set to operate three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using wide-body Airbus A350 aircraft. The schedule is designed to facilitate travel from Europe to Vietnam while offering convenient onward connections across the airline’s domestic and Asian network, including tourism destinations and economic hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and other key cities.
Market data show that two-way passenger traffic between Vietnam and the Netherlands exceeded 122,000 in 2024 and continued to grow in 2025, with the Hanoi–Amsterdam route alone recording a year-on-year increase of over 40%. Amid rising travel demand between Europe and Southeast Asia, this new route is seen as an effective solution to shorten travel time, reduce transit stops, and enhance passengers' experience.
Beyond passenger transport, the new route is expected to create significant opportunities for air cargo, particularly for Vietnam’s high-value exports to Europe such as electronics, textiles and garments, fresh agricultural produce, and seafood. The direct connection will shorten delivery time, optimise supply chains, and improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses.
At a time when take-off and landing slots at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport remain highly constrained, Vietnam Airlines’ allocation of slots underscores the growing position of the national carrier in the international aviation industry./.
VNA
