Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has scheduled direct flight service to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, starting from August 12. The new services will be operated by VIETJET, CIAL said in a media release on Friday. The new flights will be operated four days a week -- on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The new direct flight service from Ho Chi Minh City, VJ1811, will depart at 19:20 hours and reach Cochin International Airport at 22:50 hrs. The return flight,VJ1812, will depart from Kochi at 23:50 hrs and will reach Ho Chi Minh City at 06:40 hrs.

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This is the first direct air service from Kerala to Vietnam, making it a significant milestone for both the airport and the country’s tourism industry. This new service furthermore complements the existing flight services from Kochi International Airport to other Southeast Asian destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok, the statement said. 

CIAL currently operates two daily services between Kochi to Singapore; one service, 6 days a week, to Bangkok; three daily services to Kuala Lumpur.

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"We are very happy to announce a direct flight service from Kochi airport to Ho Chi Minh City. We are confident that the launch of this new air route between Kerala and Vietnam from CIAL will be a significant milestone in the tourism industry, providing travelers with a convenient and direct transportation option to meet their requirements. Also, the opening of a new air route marks a pivotal moment in the history of airport operations, which will help our company in opening up new avenues for economic growth and cultural exchange", said S Suhas IAS, managing director, CIAL. 

In the previous financial year (2022-’23), CIAL  handled 89.82 lakh passengers. Looking ahead, the company anticipates surpassing the milestone of one crore passengers in the current financial year. Notably, Kochi airport currently holds the  position of being ranked third in the country for the highest number of international passengers.

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