Viet Nam News <p>ĐÀ NẴNG — Budget carrier Jetstar Pacific has become the third airline to offer regular direct flights between Hong Kong and Đà Nẵng.</p><p>The airline said the flight was aimed to boost tourism and business travel between Đà Nẵng and Hong Kong and added that it’s the third flight connecting Đà Nẵng and Hong Kong after Đà Nẵng-Taiwan and Đà Nẵng-Singapore air routes were launched in 2016.</p><p>As scheduled, Jetstar Pacific, a member of the Jetstar Group, will operate three return flights a week on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, using 180-seat Airbus A320s with a travel time of one hour and 45 minutes.</p><p>To inaugurate the new route, Jetstar Pacific has offered a promotion programme for the Đà Nẵng-Hong Kong flight, with one-way ticket prices of VNĐ290,000 (US$12.7) for bookings every day.</p><p>Deputy director of the central city’s tourism department, Trương Thị Hồng Hạnh said the route will increase tourism demand in 2017, when Đà Nẵng will host series events such á the 2017 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Summit, VNG Ironman 70.3 Việt Nam, Đà Nẵng International Marathon and the International Fireworks Festival.</p><p>Hạnh said the city expects to host 6.3 million tourists--of which 2.3 million will be foreigners--this year.</p><p>According to the latest report, 1.3 million tourists visited the city in the first quarter this year, a 29.4 per cent increase over the same period last year.</p><p>The city’s tourism and service sector earned VNĐ3.9 trillion (US$173 million), a 31.2 per cent increase.</p><p>In 2015, Cathay Dragon launched an air route from Hong Kong to Đà Nẵng with seven flights a week, while Hong Kong Express operates three fights per week.</p><p>Đà Nẵng currently hosts 20 international flights routes.</p><p>As planned, the city will put into operation of a new terminal – beside the old one – at Đà Nẵng International Airport from next month, increasing capacity of hosting 12 million tourists by airway each year. — VNS</p>