Vietnam Airlines Plans to Add Three US Cities to its Route Network

In late 2021, Vietnam Airlines made history by launching the first regular non-stop flight between the United States and Vietnam, connecting Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco. This marked a major milestone, as for many years, United Airlines had been the only carrier operating between the two nations, with a stopover in Hong Kong. Now, just three years later, Vietnam Airlines is hinting at expanding its North American routes, with three more destinations possibly on the horizon.

Though no official timeline has been provided, Vietnam Airlines has expressed interest in adding Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vancouver to its North American network. These cities are expected to be serviced from Ho Chi Minh City, as it sees higher point-to-point traffic compared to Hanoi. Additionally, Ho Chi Minh City serves as a hub for connecting flights across Southeast Asia, which could further boost demand for these routes.

Los Angeles, in particular, would represent a longer route than San Francisco, covering 7,099 nautical miles (13,147 km) one-way. However, the other two cities, Seattle and Vancouver, are relatively shorter destinations. Despite their small size, they have the potential to draw significant traffic, especially from the Vietnamese diaspora and tourism. Still, long-haul routes such as these require a solid base of premium traffic to ensure profitability.

For instance, the average one-way fare between Ho Chi Minh City and Vancouver is $830, which is comparable to other long-haul flights, but it’s still below the fare for similar routes. For example, the average fare between Vancouver and Seoul is $898 despite covering 30% less distance. This discrepancy highlights the challenges faced by Vietnam Airlines as it aims to make these routes economically viable.

However, the airline has already proven its ability to succeed with long-haul flights, as seen with its San Francisco route. While the average fare of $791 on this route is lower than those of the potential new markets, the non-stop service provides a time-saving advantage for passengers, justifying the slight premium.

Vietnam Airlines may draw inspiration from Air Canada, which launched Vancouver-Bangkok flights in December 2022. Despite the route’s long distance, it has garnered success, prompting the airline to expand further with new destinations like Vancouver-Manila. United Airlines is also considering similar routes from San Francisco to Vietnam or Thailand.

One of the most exciting prospects is the Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles route, which would become the world’s 24th longest non-stop service, slightly shorter than Philippine Airlines’ Manila-Toronto flight. Given the market potential, this route seems almost inevitable for Vietnam Airlines to add sooner rather than later.

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