Int’l airlines expand routes, elevate service quality in Vietnam

Foreign carriers have continued to increase flight frequencies and open new routes through October and November, according to several aviation service companies and international airlines interviewed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Major service providers secure high-profile international clients

In the ground-handling sector, two major firms, namely Saigon Ground Services JSC (SAGS) and Tan Son Nhat Cargo Services JSC (TCS), are serving high-value clients such as United Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

SAGS currently provides full ground-handling services for multiple foreign carriers, including check-in, bus transfers, baggage services, and operational support.

Meanwhile, TCS has been selected by Turkish Airlines as its exclusive cargo-handling partner in Vietnam.

From October this year, TCS began operating the airline’s entire cargo processing chain using an internationally certified automated system, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing storage time.

Korean Air eyes new destinations in Vietnam

Kyoung Hee Kang, Korean Air's regional manager for Vietnam, said the carrier is evaluating the possibility of opening regular routes to Quy Nhon, Hue, or Da Lat, destinations currently served largely by charter flights.

The carrier will decide based on actual market demand and airport infrastructure readiness.

Korean Air now serves more destinations in Vietnam than in any other Southeast Asian country, operating routes to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc.

During the first half of 2025, it transported nearly 375,000 passengers between the two countries, up four percent year on year, with a seat load factor above 90 percent, among the region’s highest.

Emirates, United Airlines accelerate expansion

Emirates has placed Da Nang among its priority growth markets with the launch of the Dubai-Da Nang route, one of four new routes added globally.

United Airlines has also marked a significant step by beginning daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the U.S. via Hong Kong on October 26, making it the only U.S. airline operating from Ho Chi Minh City.

Its Boeing 787-9 aircraft offers 257 seats and convenient connections to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and another 75 destinations across the U.S.

United Airlines said that by the end of 2025, it expects to operate flights to 32 cities in the Pacific region, four times more than any other American airline.

Competition shifts toward premium services

Instead of competing solely on flight frequency, many international airlines are now focusing on premium service improvements targeted at Vietnam’s rapidly growing high-value traveler segment.

Singapore Airlines has rolled out a 20-percent cashback promotion for VPBank cardholders and added premium chauffeur and culinary services.

Qatar Airways has made last-minute upgrades more flexible, allows relatives in Vietnam to make payments on behalf of passengers abroad, and has increased special-assistance services.

Loyalty programs by Singapore Airlines and Korean Air, with transparent upgrade mechanisms, are helping attract and retain Vietnamese frequent flyers.

An aviation service executive told Tuoi Tre that the increasingly high service standards set by major global airlines are forcing local carriers to accelerate improvements if they want to remain competitive.

Industry experts say Vietnamese airlines must invest comprehensively in new aircraft, operational technology, ground services, and workforce development, rather than only focusing on fares or frequencies.

“Large international airlines like Emirates, Korean Air, and Singapore Airlines are raising the service bar from seating and meals to entertainment and ground support. Without upgrades, local carriers will struggle to retain passengers,” the executive said.