Vietjet Air will fly three times a week on each of its new Cebu–Hanoi and Cebu–Ho Chi Minh City routes, APG Philippines head of sales Kat Bucsit said at the airline’s Cebu product launch on Sept. 24.
The carrier also plans to operate three daily flights between Clark and Ho Chi Minh City, further expanding air links between the Philippines and Vietnam.
Bucsit said Vietjet would initially operate three flights a week on each Cebu route to gauge demand, with plans to increase frequencies if passenger response is strong.
She said the airline also hopes to attract travelers from elsewhere in the Visayas and Mindanao, positioning Cebu as their gateway to Vietnam, which she described as a more affordable destination than other parts of Asia.“Cebu can be like a catch area,” Bucsit said.
She cited Vietjet Air’s Manila–Ho Chi Minh City route as an example. When the airline began Philippine operations last year, it started with three flights a week on the route and increased the service to daily flights after a month.
“But of course with the help of our agency partners present here, we're hoping to increase our frequency (Cebu direct flights) soon,” she added.
Core values
Asked what sets Vietjet Air apart from other airlines, Bucsit said the carrier is guided by four core values: safety, happiness, punctuality and affordability.
“In just 15 years since the first flight in 2011, Vietjet has become the leader in Vietnam's aviation industry,” she pointed out.
Bucsit said Vietjet Air has been named among the world’s 10 safest low-cost airlines. She cited its in-flight entertainment, including games, as well as its on-time performance and lower fares as reasons travelers might choose the carrier.
“In terms of punctuality, all our flights depart as scheduled most of the time. Our prices are very low compared to other carriers,” she added.
Passengers flying from Cebu can also connect through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to other destinations in Asia, Europe and Australia, as well as to Vietnamese cities such as Da Nang.Vietjet Air offers e-vouchers for shopping and meals to transit passengers with layovers of more than five hours, Bucsit said.
Young airline
Vietjet Air is a publicly listed company trading under the stock code VJC. It began operations in 2011 with its first commercial flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
During her presentation to representatives of Cebu travel agencies, Bucsit said Vietjet has a 47-percent share of Vietnam’s domestic market and a 50-percent share of its international market as of the first half of 2026.
“Although we are a very young airline, we have received several accolades and awards from prestigious organizations. As assessed by Brand Finance, our brand value is at $960 million,” she said.
Bucsit said the carrier has received several industry awards this year and has also been included by Forbes among Vietnam’s top 50 listed companies.Its fleet consists of 135 aircraft—108 operated by Vietjet, 22 by Vietjet Thailand and five by Vietjet Kazakhstan.
Most of its aircraft are Airbus models. The A320 and A321 are used for domestic and regional routes, while Vietjet operates wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft on longer international routes.
Bucsit said the airline continues to invest in new-generation aircraft as it expands its network, with firm orders for 400 aircraft to be delivered in the coming years.
Network
Vietjet has expanded its network across Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, Australia and Europe.
“We are present in 18 countries and territories such as Australia, Cambodia, China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand,” Bucsit said.
“So, we are connected to 99 international airports, and we operate 420 flights per day, domestic and international flights,” she added.
Vietjet offers several fare options for different budgets and travel needs.
Its Eco Plus fare includes seven kilograms of carry-on baggage, while the Deluxe fare includes 20 kilograms of checked baggage and seat selection.
For passengers seeking more amenities, the SkyBoss fare includes 10 kilograms of carry-on baggage, 30 kilograms of checked baggage and one golf set. It also includes seat selection, meals, priority check-in, lounge access and rebooking and rerouting options.
Vietjet also offers business class on its wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft on routes to destinations including Japan, South Korea and Australia. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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