Vietnam Emerges as a Strategic Destination for Global Airlines

Vietnam’s aviation market is rapidly rising as a key regional hub, attracting an increasing number of international airlines expanding both their passenger and cargo operations.

 

Strong Growth in Passenger and Cargo Transport

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), in the first nine months of 2025, total air transport volume reached 64.1 million passengers and 1.1 million tons of cargo, marking year-on-year increases of 10.7% and 18.7%, respectively.
Among these, the international segment played a leading role with more than 35 million passengers and 946,200 tons of cargo, up 13.5% and 22.9% over the same period last year.

This impressive momentum is positioning Vietnam as a hotspot on the regional aviation map, viewed by global carriers as both a core market and an emerging transshipment hub in Southeast Asia.

 

Korean Air Expands Network, Eyes New Routes in Vietnam

Ms. Kyoung Hee Kang, Country Manager of Korean Air in Vietnam, said the country now represents the airline’s most connected market in Southeast Asia, with routes to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc.

During the first half of 2025, the airline transported nearly 375,000 passengers between Vietnam and South Korea, a 4% increase year-on-year. Korean Air is also considering new destinations such as Quy Nhon, Hue, or Da Lat, depending on market demand and infrastructure readiness.

“Vietnam is not only a promising market but also a strategic hub in Korean Air’s Southeast Asia network development,” Ms. Kang emphasized.

South Korea is currently Vietnam’s second-largest international tourism market, contributing 3.2 million visitors out of a total 15.4 million foreign arrivals in the first nine months of 2025.
Additionally, South Korea remains one of Vietnam’s largest foreign investors, driving robust bilateral trade and aviation growth.

 

Long Thanh International Airport – The Future Regional Hub

Korean Air representatives are closely monitoring the progress of Long Thanh International Airport, a flagship national project expected to become one of Asia’s leading aviation and logistics hubs.

Mr. Mun Man Sim, Korean Air’s Station Manager in Ho Chi Minh City, after a site visit to Long Thanh, remarked that the airport shares many similarities with South Korea’s Incheon International Airport and will significantly boost Vietnam’s aviation sector once operational.

 

Picture: Tan Son Nhat International Airport Cargo Terminal, HCM, Vietnam

Rising Competition in the Air Cargo Market

Beyond passenger operations, air cargo transport in Vietnam is growing strongly and emerging as a new driver of the aviation industry.

• Vietnam Airlines plans to launch a dedicated cargo airline in 2026 and partner with Singapore’s SATS Group to build and operate a cargo terminal at Long Thanh Airport.
• Korean Air currently operates its largest cargo hub in Southeast Asia in Hanoi, with 11 flights per week handling around 50,000 tons of export cargo annually. In Ho Chi Minh City, the airline runs three weekly freighter services, transporting an additional 16,000 tons per year via both freighter and passenger belly capacity.
• Emirates SkyCargo has also identified Vietnam as a key emerging market in its global network, carrying 13,873 tons of cargo during fiscal year 2024–2025, supported by three weekly freighter flights to Hanoi.

Mr. Abdulla Alkhallafi, Vice President for Cargo Operations, Far East and Australasia at Emirates SkyCargo, said:

“East and Southeast Asia — including Vietnam — are shaping the future of global logistics and trade. From advanced manufacturing hubs to fast-growing consumer markets, this region is driving the momentum of international commerce.”

 

With its strategic location, modernizing infrastructure, and robust growth trajectory, Vietnam is steadily emerging as a key aviation and logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region — attracting strong investment and network expansion from many of the world’s leading airlines.

Source: https://baomoi.com/viet-nam-tro-thanh-diem-den-chien-luoc-cua-cac-hang-hang-khong-quoc-te-c53502683.epi