Air New Zealand launches seasonal Vietnam service with Ho Chi Minh flights

Air New Zealand is to start direct flights between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam as the latest move in the carrier's Pacific Rim strategy, and takes the Kiwi carrier's route network to a total of thirty worldwide destinations.

Air New Zealand's chief executive Christopher Luxon said the service was significantly more convenient, and quicker than current indirect options to Vietnam.

The new route comes as Air New Zealand faces looming competition on its Auckland-Los Angeles route from American Airlines and Qantas and as it faces increasing competition domestically from Qantas's budget brand, Jetstar.

Government and tourism industry leaders on Friday welcomed the announcement by New Zealand's national carrier of the first direct air link with Vietnam.

"This is yet another great announcement from Air New Zealand and shows it is really living and breathing its 'Where to next?' campaign", says Mr Carter.

On December 10 a new alliance between Air New Zealand and Air China begins with flights from Auckland to Beijing serviced by Air China's A330-200 aircraft.

"Currently over 3,000 visitors from Vietnam visit New Zealand each year, and this new service will hopefully encourage more visitors to come".

Jones said seats for the seasonal service which runs from June to October will go on sale early in the New Year and ticket prices would be determined then.

Flight time to Vietnam will be about 11 hours and the country will be popular with travellers who have travelled to Bali and Thailand.

House of Travel commercial director Brent Thomas said he expected the route to be skewed towards New Zealand outbound traffic as opposed to inbound Vietnamese. "We believe the direct flight to Ho Chi Minh is likely to open up the central Vietnam beaches, to become more of a relaxation destination".

Vietnam was an important market for New Zealand exports including agriculture, horticulture, energy, tourism and aviation trade, he said. "It's a holiday spot that has huge appeal and we're confident that by offering a direct service even more Kiwis will be keen to explore it. Our entry point of Ho Chi Minh City in the south of Vietnam provides the ideal gateway for visitors to experience its diversity".

It is about to start new services to Buenos Aires and Houston next month.